Groups throughout the WNBA have accomplished day two and three of coaching camp. Listed here are the standout gamers and highlights from numerous groups throughout the league on Monday and Tuesday.
Indiana Fever: Excessive Coaching Camp Expectations
Following a busy offseason with a brand new entrance workplace and key participant acquisitions in free company, the Indiana Fever is embarking on a recent begin with new expertise and the return of Stephanie White as head coach.
With the addition of veterans, together with DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard, Sophie Cunningham, and Sydney Colson, who’ve expertise in earlier WNBA Finals, the Fever purpose to construct playoff momentum for his or her younger staff all through the season.
“It is essentially the most proficient roster I have been part of,” White mentioned Monday. “There have been some fairly proficient ones [throughout WNBA history]. So far as the groups I’ve coached within the W, it is the deepest, most proficient roster I have been part of.”
Simply three years in the past, the Indiana Fever completed final within the WNBA with a 5-31 report and an 18-game dropping streak. From 2017 to 2023, the staff confronted challenges with teaching modifications and participant actions, and hadn’t made the playoffs since Tamika Catchings retired from skilled basketball in 2016.
Quick ahead three years later. The Fever’s back-to-back first-round picks in 2023 and 2024 had been South Carolina ahead Aliyah Boston and Iowa guard Caitlin Clark, respectively. Indiana made the playoffs for the primary time since 2016 final season.
Regardless of being swept by the Connecticut Solar within the first spherical, optimism is rising in Indiana in hopes of bringing a championship again to the town.
Clark is heading into her second yr within the WNBA after profitable 2024 Rookie of the Yr honors, breaking numerous information, and taking part in in entrance of sold-out crowds final yr. Moreover, she has gotten stronger within the offseason.
“I actually really feel lots stronger,” Clark mentioned Monday. “I am a fairly self-aware particular person. I knew that was going to be an enormous a part of [the offseason]. … Even by means of these two practices, I can actually really feel it.”
When Bonner selected to signal with the Fever within the offseason, the gamers had been thrilled to be taught and develop below her veteran management. She gained two championships with the Phoenix Mercury throughout her 10-year tenure with the staff in 2009 and 2014.
“[DeWanna Bonner] has been great,” Clark mentioned. “She’s such a selfless chief, like she’s right here to win. She says that, however she means it, and she or he leads in that instance each single day. We’re simply sitting over there speaking after immediately, simply speaking about apply and issues we have to work on, issues that went nicely. Everyone is aware of now we have a lot expertise, however on the identical time, you bought to place that collectively.”
ENERGY ON 3 an unique look into our second day of coaching camp
pic.twitter.com/Zia0ufjDUv
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) April 29, 2025
Recent Begin on Horizon for the Fever
Kelsey Mitchell, a guard for the Indiana Fever, has been with the franchise since being chosen because the No. 2 total decide within the 2018 WNBA Draft out of Ohio State. She has skilled the staff’s journey from ending final within the standings to creating the playoffs final yr, overcoming quite a few challenges alongside the way in which.
“For us, with the brand new environment, new teaching, every little thing is simply completely new, it feels actually good,” Mitchell mentioned. “It feels recent. It is sort of like whenever you take your garments off the dryer, sort of recent. It simply feels totally different, and it feels good as a result of now we have new management. We acquired new gamers, vet management, and all that mixed makes for environment proper now. It feels good.”
Bringing Mitchell again was a high precedence for the Fever through the offseason, they usually efficiently achieved this purpose as a result of the staff values her scoring capacity and consistency. The 2-time WNBA All-Star expects Indiana to emphasise self-discipline and exhausting work to attain their purpose of profitable a championship.
Mitchell holds nice respect for White, who served because the Fever head coach through the last years of the Catchings period and sees the brand new additions of veterans as a distinction maker for the staff.
“I keep in mind this time final yr, it did not really feel good,” Mitchell mentioned. “We now have to get that to ensure that folks to begin taking part in. It is like a domino impact. However I feel as soon as your tradition is sort of established, the way you guys see it now, I feel it makes every little thing else method simpler.”
Gamers Communicate Extremely on Taurasi’s WNBA Affect
Diana Taurasi has made a big affect on the league, showcasing her longevity and legacy after 20 years with the Phoenix Mercury. She additionally turned the primary participant within the league to surpass 10,000 factors in 2023 and is the all-time main scorer with 10,646 factors.
Paige Bueckers, a rookie guard for the Dallas Wings, idolized Taurasi throughout her childhood and maintained contact along with her all through her collegiate profession at UConn.
“For positive I might need to play in opposition to her for at the very least a yr, however simply the profession that she has was one of many best,” Bueckers mentioned. “She’s been one of many G.O.A.T.S for me. Wanting as much as her going to UConn and the way in which she performed within the league. Only a winner at each single degree. Winningest participant in Olympic historical past for basketball. So, simply need to embody that and her aggressive spirit.”
Paige Bueckers on Diana Taurasi hanging it up after 20 years within the W:“For positive I might need to play in opposition to her in opposition to her for at the very least a yr, however simply the profession that she has is likely one of the best,” says @paigebueckers1.“She’s been one of many G.O.A.T.S for me. Wanting up… pic.twitter.com/G3RjPVWik3
— Landon Buford (@LandonBuford) April 28, 2025
Guard Sophie Cunningham credit Taurasi with serving to her put together to tackle a bigger function with the Fever and alongside Clark after spending six seasons with the Phoenix Mercury. All through her tenure, she performed with teammates Brittney Griner, her present Fever teammate Bonner, and was a part of the 2021 WNBA Finals staff.
“It’s a must to be prepared for the ball, head on a swivel always,” Cunningham instructed FeverBasketball.com. “The way in which [Caitlin Clark] throws the ball is lots like how [Diana Taurasi] threw it. I feel that is only a youthful model of [Taurasi] so she has a bit of bit extra vitality, a bit of extra spunk.”
Sami Whitcomb, a guard for the Phoenix Mercury, grew up admiring Taurasi. She is hopeful to hold on the legacy of Australian gamers who’ve been a part of the franchise.
“It is actually unbelievable to be part of her legacy right here [in Phoenix],” Whitcomb mentioned. “We see her on the court docket. You are reminded of every little thing she has performed, how she is an enormous a part of constructing this and this coming to fruition. I really feel like I really feel her aggressive spirit, and I’m simply making an attempt to dwell as much as that.”
Whitcomb Brings Championship Pedigree to The Valley
The Phoenix Mercury have a trio of Kahleah Copper, Alyssa Thomas, and Satou Sabally. Nevertheless, additionally they have a participant with championship expertise who contributes a profitable mindset.
Whitcomb has a championship pedigree she brings to the staff and others converse extremely of her play type and 3-point taking pictures.
“That is an enormous a part of it,” Whitcomb instructed Ballislife. “Clearly, it’s important to ask the coaches, however I feel my expertise. I have been in locker rooms that have not been nice in locker rooms which have had a championship pedigree. We have gained, so I really feel like I do know what it takes. I do know what it appears like.
“I do know what it would not appear to be, and I am able, I feel, to convey that accountability right here, which is what I intend to do. We have got an amazing management group, although. We have got an amazing veteran group. I do not see that as being a difficulty, so hopefully I can simply add to that.”
@iam_DanaScott requested Sami Whitcomb in regards to the championship pedigree she will be able to convey to Phoenix.“I’m able I feel to convey that accountability right here.”Whitcomb herself is a two-time WNBA champion. pic.twitter.com/5gGHBFC1Ng
— Hayden Cilley (@HaydenCilley) April 28, 2025
Head coach Nate Tibbetts believes Whitcomb’s potential to be the distinction maker in Phoenix’s competition for a championship.
“We have been tremendous excited with Sami’s voice. A part of their job is to convey younger gamers alongside and so. Nicely, that is gonna be a problem each day, and I feel they’re prepared for it,” Tibbetts instructed Ballislife.
“I am impressed with Sami’s affect and what you see on paper, and the place she is immediately and what she’s doing in coaching camps to this point. She is gonna be large for our tradition. All of us had been excited once we signed her.”
Megan McConnell, who signed a coaching camp contract with the Phoenix Mercury, notices the exhausting work and energy Whitcomb places in on and off the court docket.
“She’s within the gymnasium 24/7,” McConnell mentioned Tuesday. “Each time she texts me ‘I’m going to the gymnasium’, I’m simply following her alongside.”
All through the offseason, Whitcomb led the Bendigo Spirit to a WNBL title and gained the Most Beneficial Participant and Finals MVP awards. She additionally turned the highest scorer throughout the league after averaging 21 factors per recreation.
“I don’t suppose that had something to do with it,” Whitcomb mentioned. “I’m at all times making an attempt to win. I’m at all times making an attempt to play nicely. It’s good that coincided. Hopefully Phoenix followers had been enthusiastic about me coming and signing right here. I used to be simply abroad competing, making an attempt to win a championship. Abroad is a very necessary time for me to enhance and get higher and actually put together for the WNBA season.”
WNBA to Nationally Broadcast Preseason Video games
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