September 17, 2025 • 18 mins
Indiana Fever Head Coach Stephanie White joins Query & Company to recap last night’s win over the Atlanta Dream to force a winner-take-all game three on Thursday night. She shares what the team must do against the Dream to win tomorrow night, credits the group of players for sticking together through everything this season, shares what it was like last night being able to host a playoff game, and the support that the team receives from the Pacers.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The Indiana Fever will head down to Atlanta for a
decisive must win game number three against the Dream tomorrow night.
That because of their win last night seventy seven sixty
over Atlanta, their head coach is kind enough to am
sure during what is a very busy time, give us
a little bit of time today, and we are so
(00:21):
appreciative of it. We were actually willing to play justin
Timberlake by her request. By the way, Eddie right, that's right, okay.
Stephanie White joins us on the program. Coach, first off,
congratulations on the win last night.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Thanks, it was a good one. We you know, we
enjoyed playing in front of our home crowd certainly, but
our team came out and you know, backs against the
wall and we're able to come away with a win.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
I wanted to get to this. You and I talked,
I don't know, and I was asking you just about
offenses and offensive sets, and you kind of laughed and said,
you know that you're kind of old school there, Jake,
because things are a little bit more free flow now
within the game and the way that we do things.
When you look at your offensive efficiency last night, and
notably I thought you shot the wall better from the outside.
(01:07):
How much of that is designed off of making tweaks
to a scheme and how much of that is Jake,
We don't make any tweaks at all. It just happens
within the flow and it was a matter of just
making sure that we were taking advantage of open opportunity.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
I think some of adjusting to coverages and how atlantacts
to play and spacing. I think the other piece is
the willing to get to the next action, right, the second, third,
fourth actions on the floor. You know, they're the number
two defensive team in the WNBA for a reason, and
so we have to have a willingness to do it.
And at the end of the day, we got to
(01:42):
make shots.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Is this coach and you've been around basketball a long time,
whether it's a player at the college level, the professional level,
coaching for different franchises, does this team have as much
resilience as any that you've been around it?
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Does? I mean, this is a group that has continued
to be able to be flexible, be resilient, have toughness,
and the amount of situations that we've been through throughout
the course of the year, the amount of different personnel
that this group has had to adjust to. I think
(02:21):
it just speaks volume. And and you know, when you
when you when you go through the things that we've
gone through, you build strong cultural roots and and I
think you know, regardless of of of what comes of
how far we're going to to be able to go
this season, the roots that we've grown and the ability
that we've had to be able to get through multiple
situations is going to continue to pay dividends for our franchise.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
I was mentioning this earlier Stephanie White, our guest, the
head coach of the Fever. I don't know that I've
seen a team that I've you know, followed over the
course of a year that has had to deal with
the personnel changes like this one as you just talked about,
and key players going down and then for that matter,
replacement replacement. Am using in air quotes, but but you know,
(03:06):
other players going down in just a constant rotation. So
what my question is is this, do you have because
of the fact that you have players that are giving
you minutes right now that did not start out on
your roster and were players that probably at the beginning
of the WNBA season wondered if their career was even
(03:26):
going to take them into the WNBA this year, and
now they're in a situation like that. Has that allowed
coach for a resiliency to seep in because you have
players on the roster that are able to say to themselves,
this isn't even the worst thing that I faced this season.
I had to dip the you know, dig deep down
as a player just to get back into a roster.
(03:47):
So therefore this is all gravy to me. Has that
mentality seeped into those players that you began with, you know,
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
If it's if it's that mentality necessarily or the mentality
of of just the opportunity that's in that's in front
of them. You know, yes, it's that there have been variants,
journeys uh to get to this point, and certainly when
you have not been in the league, there is a
hunger and a desire to prove yourself and and and
(04:19):
so that that that helps certainly from a competitive standpoint,
you know, certainly, I would imagine with every player in
our league right now, there is a desire to prove
yourself with a new CBA and expansion teams coming, you know,
day in and day out. But I don't get the
sense that collectively with this group, that that that's it
right now. I think the the sense that I get
(04:39):
is that this group really enjoys one another. This group
really wants to do it for one another. You know,
certainly ego is uh and is a part of everybody's journey.
That's why they're the best in the world.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Now, did this definitely just go through a tunnel? Etty?
Speaker 3 (04:59):
I don't know, and just said, Nope, you're done.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
She was talking about journey and then the call dropped.
Do you think the journey actually took her? I'd like
to know. Is she made you ever driven? Like in
West Virginia, you're driving, all of a sudden you just
you go through a tunnel in one of those hills.
But that sounded like it was on our end, actually,
But I believe speaking of journeys, we're speaking of journeys, coach,
We're gonna continue the journey right where we were. So
(05:25):
you were just talking about the overall resiliency and the
collection of resiliency within the team.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Yeah, And I just think that this is a group
that really pulls for one another, that there that they've
come together and and and they've they've seen different circumstances
and they just pull for one another. And right now
they're playing for a bigger purpose, something bigger than themselves.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
You know, you mentioned this when you look at and
I know we've talked about this, but the well, it
feels like we're on the precipice right now. And a
big part of this has to do with some aspects
of your roster, But it feels like we're on the
precipice of this kind of break through within like the
collective bargaining agreement and new television contracts and revenue and
(06:06):
obviously that was a big topic of discussion at the
beginning of the year. You yourself being somebody who was
a player, who was a champion of women's sports, how
do you balance the necessity and the understanding of all
of the players individually trying to grow that brand while
at the same time keeping focus on the team aspect
(06:28):
of what the goal is in mind.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Yeah, I mean, I think for us, we talked about
this at the beginning of this year. You know, how
how do we how do we use because every every
single one of us who is who is competitive and uh,
who wants to be the best at what we do.
Every single one of us has an ego. You know,
how do you use that ego to fuel your individual success,
but also how do you shelve that ego for the
(06:52):
betterment of a team. And you know, not everybody can
do it. That's why it's important to get the right
group around them. But in terms of the big picture
of the league, yeah, I mean I was a part
of the very first collective bargaining agreement in the w
n b A as a player, where all we wanted
was insurance for for the entire year and not just
not just for the season, Uh, to where they are
now and and and you know, certainly fighting for for
(07:15):
higher salaries and and and and other things as well.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
You know, it's it's really important to have great leadership
that understands, you know, where you are and what you deserve,
but also understands, you know, how you're setting this league
up for success and the longevity of the league. And
there were plenty of players who had to sacrifice early
in their careers who aren't playing anymore for the league
to get to where it is. Just like these players
(07:38):
will be sacrificing something for the league to continue to
propel and move themselves forward. I think there's a lot
of information and and there are a lot of great resources,
and and and both sides certainly understand the pivotal moment
that we're in.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
I thought you guys did a really good job last night,
coach of kind of limiting or keeping in check Atlanta's
perimeter play and notably they're outside shooting. Did you make
adjustments in that area?
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Yeah, I mean, I think our attention to detail was better.
You know, we did a good job of limiting their
opportunities from the three point line at their place. We
just put them on the free throw line too much.
You know. The keys for us in our success against
Atlanta in particular, they got to hit under eight threes
and they got to stay off the free throw line
less than fifteen free throw attempts. We did both of those.
We were much more disciplined defensively. When they were driving
(08:24):
to the rim, they do a really good job of
initiating contact, and I thought we did a really good
job of staying disciplined and not fouling and not giving
into that contact. You know, So we were much more
disciplined at the point of our ball screen coverages of
our off ball coverages. We were disruptive. They're a good team,
and we know we're not gonna limit everything, but those
two in particular have to continue to be a point
(08:46):
of emphasis.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Can there be benefit from getting technical files?
Speaker 2 (08:51):
I mean, I guess if it causes momentum changes in
your way, there could be benefits.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Have you ever intentionally gotten one?
Speaker 2 (08:58):
I wouldn't say intentionally. I say that there are times
where I sense that momentum could be could be gained
from it. You know, there are times where where I
just you know, I go a little too far. But no,
I wouldn't say that. I'm like planned most of the
time to get to get technical foul.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
Do you have a magic phrase that you know will
get you one? Likes?
Speaker 2 (09:20):
We're definitely.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
Every time, or just like not every time.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
If it happens over and over and over again, bysically,
that's that's resulting in one.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
Okay, fair enough, Well that's kind of you know that.
I don't know if you know this or not. That
happens in my line of work. Also, like if I
use it, I get in trouble.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Also, right, do you get signed as well?
Speaker 1 (09:44):
You know that's a good question. I'd rather not find out.
You know what's funny. I don't know if you were
like this growing up. What's what's funny to me is
when I was growing up, And this is kind of
what it's like being on the radio. You know this.
You've done a lot of media work, Stephanie. But like,
I'm around my buddies and I mean, it's you're like sailors, right,
It's just like when you were in high school. When
(10:04):
I was in high school, I'd be around my buddies
playing pick up basketball, doing whatever, and I mean every
other word we're swearing. And then you get home and
you sit in front of your parents and it doesn't
even enter into your imagination, right, it's no party, And
the same happens kind of when you're on the radio.
I have no idea how I honestly, I don't know
how it doesn't slip into it. I'm knock on wood, right,
(10:27):
So I don't know if I'd get fined or not.
I think I could. I don't want to find out.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
No, Yeah, it's the same way. It's like. And when
I'm in in you know, sport, in practice in season,
they's much more frequently flying around it very rarely happens
out of season.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
Steph last night, Aliah Boston has the lay up, less
intense exico third quarter, you get the steal, and then
Lexi hits the big three in the crowd just goes
absolutely nuts. A moment like that wouldn't have happened, you know,
in previous years because of the way that the format
was for the w NBA playoffs. What did you think
of that moment last night as somebody who's been a
part of this state for so long, and seeing the
(11:04):
crowd get as lively as it was there at the
end of the third quarter going.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
Into the fourth, it was incredible. You know, I think
it felt very much like it did in twenty fifteen
when we were playing I believe it was New York
in the semi finals, you know, to go to the finals.
So we had a possession where Breon January took a
charge right in front of our bench and it was
(11:27):
a momentum changing possession and the crowd erupted, and it
just it felt very much like that. It was incredible.
I mean, I'm so you know, thankful that our fans
got an opportunity to get get that playoff game. It's
been a long time coming. You know, our players delivered.
We certainly want to have an opportunity to play some more,
but that was a really special moment.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
I think it's really cool as well to see the
reciprocal support. And I see it even you know, during
when the Pacers, like at Thanksgiving time, when they do
the you know our House me Ill for the less
Fortunate at Gamebridge, and you see both the Pacers and
Fever players that are there, the Fever players that are
(12:06):
in town at that time, and you know, seeing Tyrese
Haliburton at the game yesterday and then obviously always seeing
Caitlin Clark in different Fever player at Pacers games. Do
you think that's common for most of the franchises that
crossover not just support and respect but friendship.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
I think it's starting to become common. You know, there
are a lot of these players from a young age
have interacted with one another where whether it's through USA
Basketball clubs for you know, there's much more integration of
where these tournaments are, where these where these these players
connect from the high school level to the college level
and then at the pro level. So I do think
(12:45):
that it's it's continuing to become more common. They've they've
had relationships, they're continuing to build relationships. There's such a
mutual respect for what one another does at the highest
level every single day and how you have to prepare
and and it is a very small community of professional athletes,
and so I think it's it's always been sporadic, but
(13:05):
now it's becoming much more, much more common in mainstay.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
Hey, I'm curious of this as a as a basketball
coach who also has done radio and television basketball media,
do you find that you more often when you are
doing the media side of it, that you are critically
analyzing the coaching because you wear that hat as well.
Or do you find that when you are a coach
(13:29):
doing media like this that you are more critically wearing
the hat of the media person because you do that also.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
No, I don't think so. I think what I try
to do is really dive into to what the coach
would be thinking if I'm calling a game, like, what
would they be thinking from a game plan standpoint, from
an adjustment standpoint, it's time and score situation standpoint. And
then when I'm on this side, you know, empathizing sometimes
with with you know, as coaches, sometimes it's like, oh gosh,
(13:58):
that's why why are we asking that question? But then
empathizing with with hey, like, listen, this is just because
I know the information. Doesn't mean everybody else does, right,
somebody's hearing it for the first time, and so just
having the two perspectives, you know, hopefully allows me to
look at it from from that viewpoint, so that we
no matter what, we can give the viewer, the audience,
(14:19):
the team, whomever it might be, give them, you know,
what we're looking for, and give them a unique perspective.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
What percent of the time when we're when you're on
this show, do you think to yourself, Oh gosh, why
are we asking that question?
Speaker 2 (14:33):
I'm thinking, oh gosh, what's going to come out of
Jake's mouth? Like what are we asked?
Speaker 1 (14:36):
Fifteen fifty? Is it going to be? Is it fifty
to fifty?
Speaker 2 (14:38):
I mean, like I was anticipating a little bit when
you were talking about the Journey that we were going
to go into eighties rock again.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
And did you like Journey by.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
The way, I did like Journey, Yeah, that.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Journeys pretty cool. Journey was cool. Listen. I mean you
threw me for a curve ball with Steve Miller though,
because that you know what I mean, Like, I just
I just anticipate you being strictly nothing in high school
but a country music fan. So I was impressed when
you threw Steve Miller out.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
There, and just I mean with an athlete. I was
an athlete, so you know I wasn't just growing up
on the farm listening to country music. Right.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Well, but I think you're.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Limiting You're limiting my experience.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
Now. Listen, I'll be honest with you when I when
I think about you, like getting ready for a big
game at secret high school as an athlete, I think
of you as being like Rocky Balboa, like you were like,
you know, climbing up like you know what I mean,
Like you were doing I had a tiger Yeah, I mean,
like pulling a plow, you know what I mean. I mean,
like those sorts of things like I think like you
were basically an Amish athlete, is.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
The way I look at it, right, Yeah, I see that.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
I mean, let's be honest, it's not like you were
on Michigan Aute right school. Yeah yeah, I mean it's
a little bit different than Indianapolis North Central, but not
I mean, you were a hell of them not a lot,
but a lot better player than I was. That's for sure,
no question about it, all right, coach. Lastly, you know
the obvious here, and that is I know that you
(16:00):
want to win this game, and I know that at
this point it's kind of like you know, Norman Dale
says in Hoosiers, like we've gone over everything at this point.
But when you do go into a game that you know,
if it doesn't go your way, that then this group
may never be together in its totality again, et cetera.
What is the mindset going in? How do you keep
(16:21):
a group focused on the job at hand and not
looking beyond the stakes of it.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Well, look, most of the players in our locker room
have been through that part of it before. It's it's
nearly never the same group, no matter what you know,
at the beginning, the ending of a season, the beginning
of the next season. You know, I think for this
group in particular, we have been our best when our
back is up against the wall, and this group has
(16:49):
just is just focused on doing the job at hand.
And you know, I think for me, when I think
about the opportunity that we have in front of us,
I mean, the pressure is not on us, right, you know,
we're the lower seat. We force a Game three. We
know what we have to do in order to take
the next step and to get to another series and
to continue our quest for a championship. And we want
(17:09):
to embrace every moment that we have because this has
been such a special question group, because we do know
how to fight and call and scrape and scrap for
one another, and because we've enjoyed the moments together.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
By the way, Eddie, coach White coached in Nashville, lives
and spends a lot of time in Nashville. Coach Eddie
has come up with what he believes to be the
masterful impersonation of the sound of every bachelorette party on
the back of a bus going down Broadway. Go ahead, Eddie,
hit it. Okay? Does that sound about right?
Speaker 2 (17:43):
Is that's accurate?
Speaker 1 (17:44):
That's basically the ambient noise of Nashville, Tennessee.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
Right, Yeah, it sure is. And you have to hear
it over the loud speakers and the singing the karaoke
Oh yes, totally all right.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
Lastly, next musical request would.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
Be who oh wow. Let's see you know I went
JT and I did used to be a big in
sync fan, So maybe we'll have to go back to
nineties boy bands.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
Okay, we could do Backstreet Boys in sync. You know,
you name it right.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
But here's the thing. The reason I the reason I asked,
is because I'm putting you on the hook for next
week because you guys are going to win and you're
going to continue to have games to talk about. That's right,
Let's go, all right, appreciate it, coach, best of luck,
all right, all right. Stephanie White joining us from the
Indiana Fever
The Indiana Fever will head down to Atlanta for a
decisive must win game number three against the Dream tomorrow night.
That because of their win last night seventy seven sixty
over Atlanta, their head coach is kind enough to am
sure during what is a very busy time, give us
a little bit of time today, and we are so
(00:21):
appreciative of it. We were actually willing to play justin
Timberlake by her request. By the way, Eddie right, that's right, okay.
Stephanie White joins us on the program. Coach, first off,
congratulations on the win last night.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Thanks, it was a good one. We you know, we
enjoyed playing in front of our home crowd certainly, but
our team came out and you know, backs against the
wall and we're able to come away with a win.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
I wanted to get to this. You and I talked,
I don't know, and I was asking you just about
offenses and offensive sets, and you kind of laughed and said,
you know that you're kind of old school there, Jake,
because things are a little bit more free flow now
within the game and the way that we do things.
When you look at your offensive efficiency last night, and
notably I thought you shot the wall better from the outside.
(01:07):
How much of that is designed off of making tweaks
to a scheme and how much of that is Jake,
We don't make any tweaks at all. It just happens
within the flow and it was a matter of just
making sure that we were taking advantage of open opportunity.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
I think some of adjusting to coverages and how atlantacts
to play and spacing. I think the other piece is
the willing to get to the next action, right, the second, third,
fourth actions on the floor. You know, they're the number
two defensive team in the WNBA for a reason, and
so we have to have a willingness to do it.
And at the end of the day, we got to
(01:42):
make shots.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Is this coach and you've been around basketball a long time,
whether it's a player at the college level, the professional level,
coaching for different franchises, does this team have as much
resilience as any that you've been around it?
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Does? I mean, this is a group that has continued
to be able to be flexible, be resilient, have toughness,
and the amount of situations that we've been through throughout
the course of the year, the amount of different personnel
that this group has had to adjust to. I think
(02:21):
it just speaks volume. And and you know, when you
when you when you go through the things that we've
gone through, you build strong cultural roots and and I
think you know, regardless of of of what comes of
how far we're going to to be able to go
this season, the roots that we've grown and the ability
that we've had to be able to get through multiple
situations is going to continue to pay dividends for our franchise.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
I was mentioning this earlier Stephanie White, our guest, the
head coach of the Fever. I don't know that I've
seen a team that I've you know, followed over the
course of a year that has had to deal with
the personnel changes like this one as you just talked about,
and key players going down and then for that matter,
replacement replacement. Am using in air quotes, but but you know,
(03:06):
other players going down in just a constant rotation. So
what my question is is this, do you have because
of the fact that you have players that are giving
you minutes right now that did not start out on
your roster and were players that probably at the beginning
of the WNBA season wondered if their career was even
(03:26):
going to take them into the WNBA this year, and
now they're in a situation like that. Has that allowed
coach for a resiliency to seep in because you have
players on the roster that are able to say to themselves,
this isn't even the worst thing that I faced this season.
I had to dip the you know, dig deep down
as a player just to get back into a roster.
(03:47):
So therefore this is all gravy to me. Has that
mentality seeped into those players that you began with, you know,
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
If it's if it's that mentality necessarily or the mentality
of of just the opportunity that's in that's in front
of them. You know, yes, it's that there have been variants,
journeys uh to get to this point, and certainly when
you have not been in the league, there is a
hunger and a desire to prove yourself and and and
(04:19):
so that that that helps certainly from a competitive standpoint,
you know, certainly, I would imagine with every player in
our league right now, there is a desire to prove
yourself with a new CBA and expansion teams coming, you know,
day in and day out. But I don't get the
sense that collectively with this group, that that that's it
right now. I think the the sense that I get
(04:39):
is that this group really enjoys one another. This group
really wants to do it for one another. You know,
certainly ego is uh and is a part of everybody's journey.
That's why they're the best in the world.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Now, did this definitely just go through a tunnel? Etty?
Speaker 3 (04:59):
I don't know, and just said, Nope, you're done.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
She was talking about journey and then the call dropped.
Do you think the journey actually took her? I'd like
to know. Is she made you ever driven? Like in
West Virginia, you're driving, all of a sudden you just
you go through a tunnel in one of those hills.
But that sounded like it was on our end, actually,
But I believe speaking of journeys, we're speaking of journeys, coach,
We're gonna continue the journey right where we were. So
(05:25):
you were just talking about the overall resiliency and the
collection of resiliency within the team.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Yeah, And I just think that this is a group
that really pulls for one another, that there that they've
come together and and and they've they've seen different circumstances
and they just pull for one another. And right now
they're playing for a bigger purpose, something bigger than themselves.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
You know, you mentioned this when you look at and
I know we've talked about this, but the well, it
feels like we're on the precipice right now. And a
big part of this has to do with some aspects
of your roster, But it feels like we're on the
precipice of this kind of break through within like the
collective bargaining agreement and new television contracts and revenue and
(06:06):
obviously that was a big topic of discussion at the
beginning of the year. You yourself being somebody who was
a player, who was a champion of women's sports, how
do you balance the necessity and the understanding of all
of the players individually trying to grow that brand while
at the same time keeping focus on the team aspect
(06:28):
of what the goal is in mind.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Yeah, I mean, I think for us, we talked about
this at the beginning of this year. You know, how
how do we how do we use because every every
single one of us who is who is competitive and uh,
who wants to be the best at what we do.
Every single one of us has an ego. You know,
how do you use that ego to fuel your individual success,
but also how do you shelve that ego for the
(06:52):
betterment of a team. And you know, not everybody can
do it. That's why it's important to get the right
group around them. But in terms of the big picture
of the league, yeah, I mean I was a part
of the very first collective bargaining agreement in the w
n b A as a player, where all we wanted
was insurance for for the entire year and not just
not just for the season, Uh, to where they are
now and and and you know, certainly fighting for for
(07:15):
higher salaries and and and and other things as well.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
You know, it's it's really important to have great leadership
that understands, you know, where you are and what you deserve,
but also understands, you know, how you're setting this league
up for success and the longevity of the league. And
there were plenty of players who had to sacrifice early
in their careers who aren't playing anymore for the league
to get to where it is. Just like these players
(07:38):
will be sacrificing something for the league to continue to
propel and move themselves forward. I think there's a lot
of information and and there are a lot of great resources,
and and and both sides certainly understand the pivotal moment
that we're in.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
I thought you guys did a really good job last night,
coach of kind of limiting or keeping in check Atlanta's
perimeter play and notably they're outside shooting. Did you make
adjustments in that area?
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Yeah, I mean, I think our attention to detail was better.
You know, we did a good job of limiting their
opportunities from the three point line at their place. We
just put them on the free throw line too much.
You know. The keys for us in our success against
Atlanta in particular, they got to hit under eight threes
and they got to stay off the free throw line
less than fifteen free throw attempts. We did both of those.
We were much more disciplined defensively. When they were driving
(08:24):
to the rim, they do a really good job of
initiating contact, and I thought we did a really good
job of staying disciplined and not fouling and not giving
into that contact. You know, So we were much more
disciplined at the point of our ball screen coverages of
our off ball coverages. We were disruptive. They're a good team,
and we know we're not gonna limit everything, but those
two in particular have to continue to be a point
(08:46):
of emphasis.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Can there be benefit from getting technical files?
Speaker 2 (08:51):
I mean, I guess if it causes momentum changes in
your way, there could be benefits.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Have you ever intentionally gotten one?
Speaker 2 (08:58):
I wouldn't say intentionally. I say that there are times
where I sense that momentum could be could be gained
from it. You know, there are times where where I
just you know, I go a little too far. But no,
I wouldn't say that. I'm like planned most of the
time to get to get technical foul.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
Do you have a magic phrase that you know will
get you one? Likes?
Speaker 2 (09:20):
We're definitely.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
Every time, or just like not every time.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
If it happens over and over and over again, bysically,
that's that's resulting in one.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
Okay, fair enough, Well that's kind of you know that.
I don't know if you know this or not. That
happens in my line of work. Also, like if I
use it, I get in trouble.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Also, right, do you get signed as well?
Speaker 1 (09:44):
You know that's a good question. I'd rather not find out.
You know what's funny. I don't know if you were
like this growing up. What's what's funny to me is
when I was growing up, And this is kind of
what it's like being on the radio. You know this.
You've done a lot of media work, Stephanie. But like,
I'm around my buddies and I mean, it's you're like sailors, right,
It's just like when you were in high school. When
(10:04):
I was in high school, I'd be around my buddies
playing pick up basketball, doing whatever, and I mean every
other word we're swearing. And then you get home and
you sit in front of your parents and it doesn't
even enter into your imagination, right, it's no party, And
the same happens kind of when you're on the radio.
I have no idea how I honestly, I don't know
how it doesn't slip into it. I'm knock on wood, right,
(10:27):
So I don't know if I'd get fined or not.
I think I could. I don't want to find out.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
No, Yeah, it's the same way. It's like. And when
I'm in in you know, sport, in practice in season,
they's much more frequently flying around it very rarely happens
out of season.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
Steph last night, Aliah Boston has the lay up, less
intense exico third quarter, you get the steal, and then
Lexi hits the big three in the crowd just goes
absolutely nuts. A moment like that wouldn't have happened, you know,
in previous years because of the way that the format
was for the w NBA playoffs. What did you think
of that moment last night as somebody who's been a
part of this state for so long, and seeing the
(11:04):
crowd get as lively as it was there at the
end of the third quarter going.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
Into the fourth, it was incredible. You know, I think
it felt very much like it did in twenty fifteen
when we were playing I believe it was New York
in the semi finals, you know, to go to the finals.
So we had a possession where Breon January took a
charge right in front of our bench and it was
(11:27):
a momentum changing possession and the crowd erupted, and it
just it felt very much like that. It was incredible.
I mean, I'm so you know, thankful that our fans
got an opportunity to get get that playoff game. It's
been a long time coming. You know, our players delivered.
We certainly want to have an opportunity to play some more,
but that was a really special moment.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
I think it's really cool as well to see the
reciprocal support. And I see it even you know, during
when the Pacers, like at Thanksgiving time, when they do
the you know our House me Ill for the less
Fortunate at Gamebridge, and you see both the Pacers and
Fever players that are there, the Fever players that are
(12:06):
in town at that time, and you know, seeing Tyrese
Haliburton at the game yesterday and then obviously always seeing
Caitlin Clark in different Fever player at Pacers games. Do
you think that's common for most of the franchises that
crossover not just support and respect but friendship.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
I think it's starting to become common. You know, there
are a lot of these players from a young age
have interacted with one another where whether it's through USA
Basketball clubs for you know, there's much more integration of
where these tournaments are, where these where these these players
connect from the high school level to the college level
and then at the pro level. So I do think
(12:45):
that it's it's continuing to become more common. They've they've
had relationships, they're continuing to build relationships. There's such a
mutual respect for what one another does at the highest
level every single day and how you have to prepare
and and it is a very small community of professional athletes,
and so I think it's it's always been sporadic, but
(13:05):
now it's becoming much more, much more common in mainstay.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
Hey, I'm curious of this as a as a basketball
coach who also has done radio and television basketball media,
do you find that you more often when you are
doing the media side of it, that you are critically
analyzing the coaching because you wear that hat as well.
Or do you find that when you are a coach
(13:29):
doing media like this that you are more critically wearing
the hat of the media person because you do that also.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
No, I don't think so. I think what I try
to do is really dive into to what the coach
would be thinking if I'm calling a game, like, what
would they be thinking from a game plan standpoint, from
an adjustment standpoint, it's time and score situation standpoint. And
then when I'm on this side, you know, empathizing sometimes
with with you know, as coaches, sometimes it's like, oh gosh,
(13:58):
that's why why are we asking that question? But then
empathizing with with hey, like, listen, this is just because
I know the information. Doesn't mean everybody else does, right,
somebody's hearing it for the first time, and so just
having the two perspectives, you know, hopefully allows me to
look at it from from that viewpoint, so that we
no matter what, we can give the viewer, the audience,
(14:19):
the team, whomever it might be, give them, you know,
what we're looking for, and give them a unique perspective.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
What percent of the time when we're when you're on
this show, do you think to yourself, Oh gosh, why
are we asking that question?
Speaker 2 (14:33):
I'm thinking, oh gosh, what's going to come out of
Jake's mouth? Like what are we asked?
Speaker 1 (14:36):
Fifteen fifty? Is it going to be? Is it fifty
to fifty?
Speaker 2 (14:38):
I mean, like I was anticipating a little bit when
you were talking about the Journey that we were going
to go into eighties rock again.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
And did you like Journey by.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
The way, I did like Journey, Yeah, that.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Journeys pretty cool. Journey was cool. Listen. I mean you
threw me for a curve ball with Steve Miller though,
because that you know what I mean, Like, I just
I just anticipate you being strictly nothing in high school
but a country music fan. So I was impressed when
you threw Steve Miller out.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
There, and just I mean with an athlete. I was
an athlete, so you know I wasn't just growing up
on the farm listening to country music. Right.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Well, but I think you're.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Limiting You're limiting my experience.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
Now. Listen, I'll be honest with you when I when
I think about you, like getting ready for a big
game at secret high school as an athlete, I think
of you as being like Rocky Balboa, like you were like,
you know, climbing up like you know what I mean,
Like you were doing I had a tiger Yeah, I mean,
like pulling a plow, you know what I mean. I mean,
like those sorts of things like I think like you
were basically an Amish athlete, is.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
The way I look at it, right, Yeah, I see that.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
I mean, let's be honest, it's not like you were
on Michigan Aute right school. Yeah yeah, I mean it's
a little bit different than Indianapolis North Central, but not
I mean, you were a hell of them not a lot,
but a lot better player than I was. That's for sure,
no question about it, all right, coach. Lastly, you know
the obvious here, and that is I know that you
(16:00):
want to win this game, and I know that at
this point it's kind of like you know, Norman Dale
says in Hoosiers, like we've gone over everything at this point.
But when you do go into a game that you know,
if it doesn't go your way, that then this group
may never be together in its totality again, et cetera.
What is the mindset going in? How do you keep
(16:21):
a group focused on the job at hand and not
looking beyond the stakes of it.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Well, look, most of the players in our locker room
have been through that part of it before. It's it's
nearly never the same group, no matter what you know,
at the beginning, the ending of a season, the beginning
of the next season. You know, I think for this
group in particular, we have been our best when our
back is up against the wall, and this group has
(16:49):
just is just focused on doing the job at hand.
And you know, I think for me, when I think
about the opportunity that we have in front of us,
I mean, the pressure is not on us, right, you know,
we're the lower seat. We force a Game three. We
know what we have to do in order to take
the next step and to get to another series and
to continue our quest for a championship. And we want
(17:09):
to embrace every moment that we have because this has
been such a special question group, because we do know
how to fight and call and scrape and scrap for
one another, and because we've enjoyed the moments together.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
By the way, Eddie, coach White coached in Nashville, lives
and spends a lot of time in Nashville. Coach Eddie
has come up with what he believes to be the
masterful impersonation of the sound of every bachelorette party on
the back of a bus going down Broadway. Go ahead, Eddie,
hit it. Okay? Does that sound about right?
Speaker 2 (17:43):
Is that's accurate?
Speaker 1 (17:44):
That's basically the ambient noise of Nashville, Tennessee.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
Right, Yeah, it sure is. And you have to hear
it over the loud speakers and the singing the karaoke
Oh yes, totally all right.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
Lastly, next musical request would.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
Be who oh wow. Let's see you know I went
JT and I did used to be a big in
sync fan, So maybe we'll have to go back to
nineties boy bands.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
Okay, we could do Backstreet Boys in sync. You know,
you name it right.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
But here's the thing. The reason I the reason I asked,
is because I'm putting you on the hook for next
week because you guys are going to win and you're
going to continue to have games to talk about. That's right,
Let's go, all right, appreciate it, coach, best of luck,
all right, all right. Stephanie White joining us from the
Indiana Fever
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