Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White admitted that her team played with "anxiety" during their recent 89-87 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks. The Fever, who had been on a three-game winning streak, struggled against the Sparks, particularly in the closing moments of the game. White pointed to defensive issues and a lack of discipline as contributing factors to the defeat.

In the post-game press conference, White stated, "Sometimes we get a little too anxious". She elaborated that instead of forcing opponents to take difficult shots, the Fever players were attempting to "finish the play with a block or by sliding in at the last moment," which often led to fouls. She also noted the team's tendency to be late on defensive rotations, putting them in unfavorable positions. "We’re not moving when the ball moves or moving when our player moves. And so that unnecessarily puts us in rotation," White said.

The Sparks took advantage of these defensive lapses, with players like Kelsey Plum, Azura Stevens, and Rickea Jackson making crucial plays down the stretch. Jackson made a tough shot and drew a foul on Natasha Howard with just over a minute remaining, and Stevens iced the game with a pressure free throw. White acknowledged the need to avoid bailing out talented players by fouling, stating, "We just have to live with knowing that great players are going to make really good plays and don't bail them out by fouling... maybe we'll get lucky and they'll miss".

White also noted that the Sparks effectively attacked the Fever's smaller guards when they were switched onto Jackson or Stevens. She felt the Sparks "let the game come to them" while the Fever "really felt pressed". She added, "We've gotta protect our paint".

The Fever had a four-point lead with less than two minutes remaining, but they missed their last five shots as the Sparks closed the game on a 6-0 run. This loss brings the Fever to a 9-9 record for the season.

Analyst Whitlock called out White's decision to remove Natasha Howard from the lineup in the final seconds, a move that was questioned because Howard could have been the one to take the clutch shot. White explained that the Fever lost for multiple reasons, including being late at the point of attack and not moving effectively on defense.

Despite the loss, White acknowledged her team's effort and energy throughout a demanding stretch of nine games in 18 days. She emphasized the need for mental sharpness to overcome physical fatigue and for improved anticipation and activity on the court. "If there's a day where you feel like maybe you're a step slow our anticipation has to be better, um our activity has to be better," White said. She stressed that consistent focus is crucial, especially against teams that have already won on their home court.

Looking ahead, the Fever will have three days off before facing the Golden State Valkyries on July 9. The team hopes to have Caitlin Clark back from injury for that game.