Sophie Cunningham, Caitlin Clark & Head Coach Stephanie White — Postgame Media vs. New York

[0:00] Before I do a question about the game, I presume both of you have seen what your head coach said [0:03] before the game now. Yeah. What did you think about the things she had to say? And why do you [0:08] think she decided now was the time to do that? You know, I think there's just been a lot of [0:14] outside noise, but our locker room is good. And that's what it is to be an Indiana fever [0:19] on the staff, as a player, that you know when you come here, that's going to be one of the [0:26] things that's going to try to distract you. But our locker room in there, it's tight. And we have [0:29] each other's backs. Coach loves us. She didn't see the clip. At the end of the day, she didn't [0:33] see the clip. And you know what, Dijanae, she is a hell of a player. She's a great defender. [0:37] And so she coached her for I don't know how many years up in Connecticut. So give her her flowers, [0:41] and she didn't see it. And that's okay. Me and Steph are great. Steph is great with all of us. [0:45] And so it's really the outside noise that's trying to distract us, but we're good. [0:49] Just because you brought the player from last game, did you feel like there was more outside [0:51] noise after that game? You know what? I really don't care. I really don't care anymore. I'm [0:56] trying to keep the main thing the main thing. I think we played an excellent game today [0:58] against the Liberty. We played ourselves. We won. We shared the ball. I think our defense [1:08] was really good. I think the third quarter, we kind of were a little slumpy. But we got [1:12] it back. And that's what's important. And we're trying to focus on the big picture here. And I [1:17] think we really needed this win. And that is our focus, is every day trying to get better. And [1:20] tonight, we took care of business. Caitlin, just to follow up. I know [1:24] you and Steph, you just spoke to Tony's question. But what was your kind of reaction to hearing what [1:29] Steph said? And just her message overall about the divisiveness and the lead kind of saying, right? [1:35] Yeah. I talked to Steph earlier in the day, too. And I think we forget a lot of times we're human, [1:42] and she has feelings. And there's moments that are really hard. And sometimes that's just the job you [1:50] sign up for. But at the same time, it's okay to feel those emotions. And I just told her, I've been [1:55] through the same thing. Like, there's been days where I've been really upset. And you can have the [2:00] thickest skin in the world. But sometimes it does get to you. And, you know, I think our world is just [2:05] like, we love to hate. We love to divide. Like, that's all we want to do. Like, nobody wants to see each [2:10] other succeed. And I think that's a really painful thing for myself to watch. I feel like we need to do a [2:17] better job at uplifting each other. And I can assure you there was no way we were losing this game [2:23] tonight. And I told her that before the game. Like, there was no way we were losing this game [2:26] for her. And, you know, it's tough. Like, that's my head coach. Like, I hated that our fans booed her [2:33] before the game. That made me a little sick, to be honest. And you can disagree and this and that. [2:38] And I get it. It's professional sports people are going to boo. But like, at the end of the day, [2:41] that's our head coach. And we're going to ride for her. And we're always going to have our back. [2:44] And it's never going to tear our locker room apart. So I just love her. And I feel for her [2:50] because I know it can be a lot of times. And she does a great job a lot of times blocking it out. [2:54] But there's other moments where it can get under your skin. And that's just being human. And that's [2:57] just life. Like, there are tough days. And there are tough moments. But just proud of our group. [3:02] Like, I think we showed, like, what we're all about tonight. Like, we came out. We had fun. We shared [3:07] the ball. And, you know, we played with joy and a smile on our face. And to be honest, we really just did [3:14] it for her. And we did it for each other. And the girls in our locker room. [3:20] I'll do a basketball question for you guys. [3:21] That's great. That's new. [3:23] Caitlin, I know we've talked about Kelsey kind of during this stretch she's in. But [3:27] she had a career year last year. She comes back even better this year. I guess [3:31] how impressive and important has she been for you guys, especially during this kind of stretch [3:36] you're in? Yeah, I mean, she just doesn't miss. It's pretty incredible. Like, she's the best scorer [3:40] in the league, hands down. It's not even close. Like, she just makes the game of basketball really pretty [3:45] and really pure. And it's fun to, like, be in the backcourt with her. Like, it's where I just [3:49] swing the rock. And it's, like, an automatic assist. And, like, it's fun just, like, getting [3:53] to watch her do her thing. And it's fun to see, like, the joy and the passion that she has for [3:57] the game. Like, she truly loves the game. She loves her teammates. She loves, you know, getting [4:01] to compete and work every single day. Like, she truly, like, just puts her head down and, like, [4:05] goes. Like, there's no extracurricular with her. Like, it's basketball. And, you know, she's going to have [4:10] her teammates back. And it's just been fun to, obviously, watch her evolution from when I first [4:15] got here. And obviously, a lot of these moments, like, you know, they're for her. Like, they're [4:20] special. Like, she's been through, you know, the worst of times with this organization. So [4:24] I'm just really happy she's playing her best basketball right now. And she just continues [4:28] to top, you know, the last night and just keeps it moving forward, which, really just happy for her. [4:35] Sophie, you mentioned being a little bit slumpy in the third quarter, but Liberty only got within nine. [4:41] And you guys have had games where you've built up big leads and then kind of lost them entirely. [4:44] So what does it mean to be able to stop that Liberty run at nine-point deficit and be able to build it [4:50] back up again? Yeah, I think they went on, and I could be totally wrong on this, a 14-2 run. [4:55] And when we build that really good lead in the first half, we got to, you know, put the pedal on [4:59] the metal. We got to make a statement coming out of that third quarter. And so I think that's just an [5:03] area of growth. We all know it. And we got to try to lock in and try to find a way to be successful of [5:08] trying to punch first in the third quarter. But overall, I think we had a really solid game. [5:13] And like what C said, we really did play with just joy. And with everything going on, that's kind of [5:18] been hard to do. And tonight was the night that we all just, like, clicked, and we had fun, and we did [5:21] it for Steph, and we did it for everyone in the locker room. And so that third quarter almost got away [5:25] from us, but we dialed it in, and we went on a run, and that's what it's all about. [5:28] For Caitlin, tonight's second quarter with that big lead was very similar to the 20-point lead you built [5:38] against Las Vegas. And it seemed watching those two stretches, that's about as well as you guys [5:45] can play for a stretch. How do you maintain that for the whole game? [5:50] Yeah. I mean, the law of averages are going to happen. Like, we were 11 for 14 from three in the [5:57] first half, maybe 11 from 13. And we still finished it, shooting it really well from the three-point line. [6:02] But, you know, I think at times we, I think we have to do a little bit better job of understanding, [6:09] you know, sequence of the game. I think when we came out in the third quarter, it was like, [6:13] miss shot, tough shot, turnover. Then we kept fouling them, and they were scoring. Then we had to have [6:20] Steph use a timeout. So I think as a point guard, like, just understanding sequence of the game a [6:24] little bit better, and you want to, like, get us into stuff, get us into something we really know [6:28] it's going to work, get us a quick bucket. But I think for us, like, it never felt like we were [6:35] backpedaling. Even though they did go on their run, it never felt like we were, you know, kind of on [6:40] our heels. Like, you know, we knew they were going to go on a run, and we knew we were going to come [6:43] back and respond. I didn't feel like we were on our heels. And I think in the Vegas game, we were on our [6:48] heels a little bit, especially in the third quarter. Like, we still obviously played well offensively in the [6:51] third quarter tonight, and that was not the case versus Vegas. [6:55] Kaylin, you guys only have one game with over 13 turnovers in the last six games. [6:59] Telling you only at 11. What do you feel like has gotten better in that department for you guys in [7:03] terms of taking care of the ball and connectivity? [7:04] Yeah, our goal is 12 every night. Like, I think I'm pretty sure our record is basically undefeated [7:09] when we have 12 or less turnovers. So that's a big stat for us. You know, and this isn't a team [7:16] that necessarily is going to turn you over. That's not really just what they do. It's so you really [7:23] need to limit them because those are just easy buckets for them. But I think in return, like, [7:28] we did a really good job of scoring off of their turnovers. I think we had, what, like 20 points [7:32] off of their turnovers or something like that. So, you know, that's a big focus point, probably a top [7:38] three key to win every single time we're going into a game is we want to be 12 or less. [7:43] Steph, I do have a question about the game. But first, is there a reason you felt today was the [7:47] right time to make the statement that you did before the game? [7:49] Yeah, I mean, you know, it's I've made a statement before about the noise that surrounds our league [7:56] and, you know, we're being hijacked for all the wrong reasons. And so, you know, I sat with this [8:04] student, Tony, you got to stop doing that. And, you know, I just, I felt called today to speak. [8:15] Was there a specific event or anything that you felt pushed you to do that in this instance? [8:19] I mean, of course, like the response from Saturday, it's why, you know, it's part of, [8:24] you know, why it's, it's people presume to, to know who I am and, and have no idea. [8:30] But also because these women are playing incredible basketball and they deserve to be celebrated for [8:35] that, you know, and, and I give them a ton of credit, like winners focus on winning and that's [8:40] what they're doing. You know, there's, they're, they're winners in that locker room. They pull for [8:44] each other. You guys are here a lot. You see, like, it's good vibes. It's everybody else that wants [8:49] to divide us, our team and our league. And, you know, as somebody who's been around for a long, [8:55] long time, um, in this league, um, I'm, I'm tired of it. And, you know, I know that we, as a, [9:03] as teams stand united in, in how we feel about this and we've just got to continue to stay the [9:09] course. Both Caitlin and Sophie just told us they wanted to win for you tonight. What did you think [9:14] of the third quarter response to push ahead and win for you from your players? I'm just proud of them, [9:17] man. I mean, you know, again, like we've got great humans in that locker room. We got great [9:23] competitors in that locker room. Um, you know, we've got mature women in that locker room who, [9:30] who know, uh, what it is. And, you know, I'm thankful to them. Um, you know, those of you who've [9:37] been around, you know, a year ago in this year, it's like we, we, we were fighting different demons, [9:41] fighting different battles. Um, but the same character, you know, adversity reveals, reveals your [9:47] character. And this, this is a really special group, um, a really united group, um, and a group [9:53] that I'm, I'm proud to, to go to work with every day. Kind of off that note, Steph, um, on the topic [10:02] of like outside narratives, trying to dictate or divide, what is the story you want your group or [10:07] your players as team, or even just the league to, what is the story that people should know or should [10:12] understand from what the WNBA is about? Well, first and foremost, basketball. I mean, [10:20] at the end of the day, like our team is playing great basketball. Um, you know, our, our, our league [10:26] is the best in the world, the best athletes in the world. They should be celebrated. It's, it's, um, [10:38] you know, we, as, as women in particular, um, continue to fight. Um, we continue to, to try to [10:47] represent the right things. Um, and, you know, I think we're, we're as, as women and as a, as a [10:54] women's league, um, sometimes, sometimes we're an easy target. Sometimes we're an easy target. [11:03] Um, and you know, it's unfortunate, but we've got hundreds of years of precedent of a lot of [11:09] different things that are happening, you know, in our world and in our country. And, um, and we just [11:14] want to try to, you know, keep the main thing, the main thing. And I think it's important that we [11:19] understand that we need to focus on this group and how they're playing basketball right now, because [11:24] they've been playing incredible basketball. And so I'd, I'd like to stop talking about the other shit. [11:29] You've won, I think, seven out of nine, probably should be eight out of nine. Uh, [11:40] do you feel like your team is coalescing at the right time that they're playing the kind of [11:46] basketball that can win a championship? I do. You know, I do. It's about continuing to get better. [11:51] It's about continuing to grow. Uh, you know, we knew we wanted to, to come out of all-star break, [11:57] um, with some momentum and we did that. Um, and, and we want to go into world cup break with some [12:02] momentum. You know, it's, it's, we're not a finished product. Uh, we want to be playing our [12:06] best basketball heading into the playoffs. Um, but, but everybody in this playoff hunt is one [12:12] game in or one game out. And so we understand the urgency, um, of, of every game of every [12:17] possession, um, of every situation. Um, and you know, our team has gotten better. Our team has [12:23] gotten better. And it's a credit to every woman in that locker room. [12:25] I know we've talked a lot about Kelsey kind of during this stretch you guys are on, [12:31] but kind of big picture. I mean, she was all W last season and comes back even better this season. [12:37] How impressive is that to, to see her continuing to improve at this stage? [12:42] I mean, I'm proud of her. Um, but I'm not surprised. She loves to hoop and she loves to play. [12:48] And I know I say this often, but I've been watching Kelsey Mitchell for a long time. [12:51] And the way that she worked when she was a freshman in college is the way that she works pregame [12:55] or post or pre-practice or post-practice every day now. Um, she, she wants to perfect her craft. [13:01] Um, you know, we all, we all know that chasing perfection, you probably never attain, but, [13:06] but she keeps trying, man. And she is an incredible athlete. Um, one of the best go-to [13:14] scorers in this league, in this league's history. Uh, and she continues to grow and she continues [13:18] to get better and she continues to step up. And I'm really proud of her. [13:23] Myesha has been back in the rotation these past couple of games. Just how did KK going into [13:27] the starting lineup change how you need her for depth and just what do you like about [13:32] my skin? Yeah. I mean, KK in the starting lineup, you know, allows us to bring, um, [13:36] bring Moen at the five and play, play my at the four. Um, it allows us a little bit more [13:41] fluid rotation. Um, you know, I think, um, you know, Maya is, is somebody who can play [13:47] multiple positions for us. Um, you know, the four and the five, but it's, it's allowed us [13:52] to, I think, free up some minutes for her. Um, you know, we still want to be, be mindful [13:56] of, of our substitution patterns, but our combinations of, um, Mo and Mai together [14:02] have been really good of, of, of Mai and KK and Mo and KK together have been really good [14:07] and AB and, and, um, and KK as well. So we just wanted to try to shore that up a little [14:10] bit.