Connecticut coach Stephanie White pinpoints 1 key factor for beating Indiana Fever in first round of playoffs

Connecticut Sun coach Stephanie White previewed her team's upcoming playoff battle against the Caitlin Clark-led Indiana Fever. The 2024 WNBA playoff bracket was finalized on Thursday, with the Fever set to face the Sun in the first round. The first game of the best-of-three series is set for Sunday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

The showdown between both Eastern Conference teams promises to be an exciting and closely contested matchup.

Coach White spoke about Indiana's strength after Connecticut's last regular season game on Thursday, which resulted in an 87-54 blowout victory over the Chicago Sky.

White highlighted one key factor that could prove crucial in eliminating the Fever in the first round of the playoffs. While the Connecticut coach acknowledged that outscoring Christie Sides' fast-paced offense is nearly impossible, she emphasized that strong, lockdown defense will be the primary strategy for winning games against the Fever:

"They are a tough matchup, and Becky Hammon was right; you cannot outscore that team," White said.

"You have to lock down defensively, got to be able to give them different looks because they are smart players and when they get you beat, they will pick you apart," she added.

Led by Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana's offense is the third-best in the league. The Fever averaged 85 points per game in the regular season with a league-leading 45.6% shooting from the field. Both Clark and Mitchell tallied more than 750 points.

Containing the Fever's fast-paced and multi-faceted offense will be a monumental task for White and her players. Indiana can break down defenses with their drives into the paint, while Clark, Mitchell and Lexie Hull consistently pose a threat from beyond the arc.

Sun more than capable of keeping Fever's offense in check

The Connecticut Sun is equipped to contain the Indiana Fever's explosive offense. Lockdown and physical defense have been the cornerstone of their game all season. Stephanie White's squad leads the league in defensive rating at 94.6 and allows just 73.6 ppg on average, the best mark in the WNBA.

Additionally, the Sun averaged 8.2 steals per game, the third-highest in the league. Their perimeter defense has been outstanding, holding opponents to under 31% shooting from beyond the arc.

Connecticut has a proven formula for winning against Indiana, and the Fever have consistently struggled to score freely against them. Despite averaging 85 ppg this season, Indiana failed to surpass 84 points in any of their four matchups with the Sun. The Fever managed to score 84 points twice while being held to 72 and 71 points in the other two games.

Overall, the Sun won three out of the four games against the Fever in the regular season.

Which team do you think will make it past the first round of the playoffs between the Connecticut Sun and Indiana Fever? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.