Indiana suffered back-to-back losses on its West Coast trip, falling to Golden State (90-88) and Portland (100-84). During that stretch, the Fever gave up an average of 95.0 points per game.
Though Indiana leads the league in offense, averaging 91.8 points per game early this season, its defense has underperformed. The Fever has allowed 89.0 ppg, placing it in the bottom half of the WNBA in points allowed. For Indiana guard Sophie Cunningham, the team’s defense could improve for the rest of the season if each player owns their role and plays tougher than expected.
Sophie Cunningham Gives an Honest Take on Indiana Fever’s Defense
Cunningham spoke with the media on Tuesday as the team prepares for its 2026 Commissioner’s Cup clash against the Atlanta Dream. She was asked about the team’s level of frustration after losing its last two games, which had dropped the team to 4-4 in the standings.
For the guard, the team’s issue is not embracing their identity as a tough defensive team and not accepting their roles early in the season.
“We have all the pieces we need (to win), but it’s knowing your role, owning your role and also just being tough,” Cunningham said. “We’re just too soft right now, and that’s not what our identity is, so we need to get away from that.”
The 6-foot-1 veteran wants her teammates to play with more conviction on defense because she believes the saying “defense wins championships.”
“You just have to be willing to play defense – it’s not fun, no one wants to do it. But the good defensive teams are the ones that win,” the 29-year-old Cunningham said.
She also singled out the Fever’s lack of defensive variety, saying that using the same defensive scheme every game undermines the team’s identity.
“We got to dial in, we got to focus, your IQ has to be on point, you have to know what schemes were doing and if you can’t do that, then you can’t play and that’s the point that we’re at right now,” Cunningham noted.
While the guard suggests that the coaching staff employ more defensive schemes to disrupt the opposing team’s offense, Fever head coach Stephanie White takes a different view. She wants her team to build their confidence first before deploying a more effective defensive tactic.
Cunningham believes the Fever are facing early-season trials and shortcomings, and they still have several months to fix things before the playoffs approach.
Thursday’s game against Atlanta at Gainbridge Fieldhouse marks the start of their Commissioner’s Cup defense. A Fever win over the Dream would not only snap their losing skid but also help restore their confidence, which has been shaken by successive losses on their West Coast trip.
