by Vegas Writer
Wednesday, Jun 03, 2026Is there a reason to fade the Indiana Fever with so many distractions taking place off the court?
Admittedly, it's what I think of every time I see they're playing. I should be thinking about the competition, the venue, if Caitlin Clark's back is acting up, if Kelsey Mitchell is playing... the things that matter.
Instead, we're focused on Clark's in-game tiffs with coaches - first assistant Bri January and then head coach Stephanie White - and now it's a beat writer getting his credential revoked.
Are these distractions the reason the Fever come into the week on a two-game slide? It's possible.
The fact is, Indiana lost both road games last week, in San Francisco and Portland, because all is not well with the Fever.
While they rank No. 1 in scoring 91.8 points per game, they also rank 14th - second-to-last - with a scoring defense that is allowing 89.0 points per game. Perspective: while they were also 4-4 last season after eight games, their defense was allowing 76.3 points per game.
This year, they've been torched for 90 or more in half of their eight games.
Now, they have a gauntlet waiting for them this week.
The Fever will host the Atlanta Dream on Thursday before visiting the New York Liberty on Saturday. Both teams will be salivating, knowing they can contribute to a team that has stolen headlines for all the wrong reasons. The Fever also hit D.C. for a game against the Washington Mystics next Monday, and that won't be easy.
The Fever are 4-4 both SU and ATS this season, and have gone over in five of the eight because of their defensive woes.
I would expect the Fever to lay a small number to the Dream on Thursday, but don't be surprised if Atlanta steals one against troubling Indiana.
PROP WATCH OF THE WEEK
Toronto Tempo veteran MARINA MABREY was the Eastern Conference Player of the Week after scoring 21.0 points per game while leading the expansion squad to a 2-0 mark. Mabrey, who hit 57.7% from the floor, including 37.5% from 3-point range in the two wins, could find herself in an advantageous situation this week. The Tempo visit Brooklyn to face the Liberty, and Toronto could rely on its veteran in a game like this. In 24 career games against the Liberty, she's averaging 14.2 points per game, fifth-highest of any opponent. The Tempo then return home to host the injury-plagued Chicago Sky, a franchise Mabrey once played for and wouldn't mind showing up in her new digs.
GAME OF THE WEEK
Saturday, June 6, 3 p.m. Eastern on ABC: Golden State at Las Vegas -- The defending champion Aces opened the week with a win in Los Angeles on Tuesday and now set their sights on a two-game homestand beginning Saturday with the Valkyries. Some might say this has become a bigger rivalry than the Aces-Sparks, with coach Natalie Nakase leading the charge in San Francisco. As of Wednesday morning, the Aces and Valkyries are both 6-3, with Las Vegas holding the fourth slot and Golden State in fifth. Both are behind the third-place Dallas Wings. And aside from the Valkyries looking for revenge for the Aces' win on May 31, A'ja Wilson and company are looking for their first home win.
RANKINGS:
1. Minnesota Lynx - Cheryl Reeve has her squad quietly looking like the best team in the league after five straight wins behind the WNBA's top scoring defense. And by the way, they're 8-1 ATS.
2. Atlanta Dream - They lost to the Lynx last week, but responded with two wins, albeit over Portland and Connecticut. Thursday's game in Indianapolis will tell us a lot.
3. Dallas Wings - A win over the champs gives them the nod, even with an identical 6-3 record as the Aces. This is a team to consider ATS (6-3) and Under (3-6-0) on the road in Los Angeles and Minnesota this week.
4. Las Vegas Aces - Can the champs win at home? They're 0-2 in Las Vegas, and have two important ones coming up, against Golden State and Seattle.
5. Golden State Valkyries - Last year's expansion darling has become a legitimate Western Conference threat. Surprisingly, with a coach who is staunch with her defense, the Valkyries have gone over in seven of nine.
6. Portland Fire - I didn't have two wins over the Liberty and a victory over the Fever on my Fire bingo card, but here we are.
7. Toronto Tempo - Huge game in Brooklyn on Wednesday night, as Sandy Brondello returns to Barclays to face the team she led to a title.
8. New York Liberty - Yes, they snapped out of their three-game funk. But they did it with wins over No. 14 Phoenix. I need to see more.
9. Washington Mystics - A team that is 4-4 on the court has covered five of eight this season. After dismantling Chicago on Tuesday, the Mystics have a huge game on Saturday in Atlanta.
10. Indiana Fever - If the defense doesn't improve, an extended losing skid is forthcoming.
11. Los Angeles Sparks - If it wasn't bad enough missing Kelsey Plum, the Sparks may have lost Rae Burrell on the final play Tuesday night.
12. Seattle Storm - With their best players on the injury report, their three-game losing skid could extend with their Commissioner's Cup schedule on deck.
13. Chicago Sky - See Seattle, as the Sky are missing key players.
14. Phoenix Mercury - What is going on with the defending runner-up that made an impressive run to the WNBA Finals last season?
15. Connecticut Sun - The worst scoring offense in the WNBA has this team lacking consistency right now.
Admittedly, it's what I think of every time I see they're playing. I should be thinking about the competition, the venue, if Caitlin Clark's back is acting up, if Kelsey Mitchell is playing... the things that matter.
Instead, we're focused on Clark's in-game tiffs with coaches - first assistant Bri January and then head coach Stephanie White - and now it's a beat writer getting his credential revoked.
Are these distractions the reason the Fever come into the week on a two-game slide? It's possible.
The fact is, Indiana lost both road games last week, in San Francisco and Portland, because all is not well with the Fever.
While they rank No. 1 in scoring 91.8 points per game, they also rank 14th - second-to-last - with a scoring defense that is allowing 89.0 points per game. Perspective: while they were also 4-4 last season after eight games, their defense was allowing 76.3 points per game.
This year, they've been torched for 90 or more in half of their eight games.
Now, they have a gauntlet waiting for them this week.
The Fever will host the Atlanta Dream on Thursday before visiting the New York Liberty on Saturday. Both teams will be salivating, knowing they can contribute to a team that has stolen headlines for all the wrong reasons. The Fever also hit D.C. for a game against the Washington Mystics next Monday, and that won't be easy.
The Fever are 4-4 both SU and ATS this season, and have gone over in five of the eight because of their defensive woes.
I would expect the Fever to lay a small number to the Dream on Thursday, but don't be surprised if Atlanta steals one against troubling Indiana.
PROP WATCH OF THE WEEK
Toronto Tempo veteran MARINA MABREY was the Eastern Conference Player of the Week after scoring 21.0 points per game while leading the expansion squad to a 2-0 mark. Mabrey, who hit 57.7% from the floor, including 37.5% from 3-point range in the two wins, could find herself in an advantageous situation this week. The Tempo visit Brooklyn to face the Liberty, and Toronto could rely on its veteran in a game like this. In 24 career games against the Liberty, she's averaging 14.2 points per game, fifth-highest of any opponent. The Tempo then return home to host the injury-plagued Chicago Sky, a franchise Mabrey once played for and wouldn't mind showing up in her new digs.
GAME OF THE WEEK
Saturday, June 6, 3 p.m. Eastern on ABC: Golden State at Las Vegas -- The defending champion Aces opened the week with a win in Los Angeles on Tuesday and now set their sights on a two-game homestand beginning Saturday with the Valkyries. Some might say this has become a bigger rivalry than the Aces-Sparks, with coach Natalie Nakase leading the charge in San Francisco. As of Wednesday morning, the Aces and Valkyries are both 6-3, with Las Vegas holding the fourth slot and Golden State in fifth. Both are behind the third-place Dallas Wings. And aside from the Valkyries looking for revenge for the Aces' win on May 31, A'ja Wilson and company are looking for their first home win.
RANKINGS:
1. Minnesota Lynx - Cheryl Reeve has her squad quietly looking like the best team in the league after five straight wins behind the WNBA's top scoring defense. And by the way, they're 8-1 ATS.
2. Atlanta Dream - They lost to the Lynx last week, but responded with two wins, albeit over Portland and Connecticut. Thursday's game in Indianapolis will tell us a lot.
3. Dallas Wings - A win over the champs gives them the nod, even with an identical 6-3 record as the Aces. This is a team to consider ATS (6-3) and Under (3-6-0) on the road in Los Angeles and Minnesota this week.
4. Las Vegas Aces - Can the champs win at home? They're 0-2 in Las Vegas, and have two important ones coming up, against Golden State and Seattle.
5. Golden State Valkyries - Last year's expansion darling has become a legitimate Western Conference threat. Surprisingly, with a coach who is staunch with her defense, the Valkyries have gone over in seven of nine.
6. Portland Fire - I didn't have two wins over the Liberty and a victory over the Fever on my Fire bingo card, but here we are.
7. Toronto Tempo - Huge game in Brooklyn on Wednesday night, as Sandy Brondello returns to Barclays to face the team she led to a title.
8. New York Liberty - Yes, they snapped out of their three-game funk. But they did it with wins over No. 14 Phoenix. I need to see more.
9. Washington Mystics - A team that is 4-4 on the court has covered five of eight this season. After dismantling Chicago on Tuesday, the Mystics have a huge game on Saturday in Atlanta.
10. Indiana Fever - If the defense doesn't improve, an extended losing skid is forthcoming.
11. Los Angeles Sparks - If it wasn't bad enough missing Kelsey Plum, the Sparks may have lost Rae Burrell on the final play Tuesday night.
12. Seattle Storm - With their best players on the injury report, their three-game losing skid could extend with their Commissioner's Cup schedule on deck.
13. Chicago Sky - See Seattle, as the Sky are missing key players.
14. Phoenix Mercury - What is going on with the defending runner-up that made an impressive run to the WNBA Finals last season?
15. Connecticut Sun - The worst scoring offense in the WNBA has this team lacking consistency right now.
