Fever players and coach address sideline exchange after loss

Indiana Fever star and coach addressed questions Monday about an animated discussion that occurred during a 100-84 loss to Portland on Saturday. The player said the two are competitive people who want to win and that such exchanges happen often. The coach described the moment as challenging a player and called it standard coaching.

The coach appeared to jab a finger in the air while the player raised her arms and later stood, moved behind the coach and shook her head. The player said media coverage and social media amplified the moment beyond reality. The coach said the incident is not a story and noted that similar situations occur across sports without the same attention.

The team leads the league in scoring at 91.8 points per game while ranking near the bottom in defensive scoring. The player said the team is playing like a .500 squad and must improve. The coach said the player will continue to grow on defense and that the group must focus on team defense. The Fever host Atlanta on Thursday to begin Commissioner's Cup play.