Fever Approaching Game 2 With ’Back-To-The-Wall’ Mentality


MINNEAPOLIS – The 2015 postseason has presented the Indiana Fever with all sorts of scenarios, but the one they find themselves in ahead of Game 2 of the WNBA Finals 2015 presented by Boost Mobile is a first. Head coach Stephanie White’s squad holds a series lead for the first time, and it would seem as if most of the pressure rests on the shoulders of the Minnesota Lynx.

Don’t tell the Fever that.

This is a gritty squad that has thrived in pressure situations this postseason — they won Game 3s on the road in both previous rounds in the Playoffs — and they feel as if that pressure hasn’t shifted in this series.



On Tuesday night (8PM ET, ESPN 2), the Fever have a chance to take a commanding 2-0 series lead back to Indianapolis and put themselves on the cusp of a WNBA title. Still, Indiana is determined to not attack Game 2 with a complacent approach.

“Our backs are still against the wall because the series isn’t over,” said Fever guard Briann January. “In the blink of an eye the momentum can swing, and in that regard you have to come out with that attitude that your back is against the wall.”

January understands just how quickly things can change over the course of a five-game series. She was a member of the 2012 Fever team that, although ultimately won the title, lost by 12 points in Game 2 against the Lynx.

The loss evened the series and gave Minnesota life as the series shifted back to Indianapolis.

“We’re on the road, on their court, in a hostile environment,” January said. “You have to come with a chip on your shoulder and give everything you have or else you will come out with a loss.”

Seimone Augustus was on that 2012 Lynx team and understands the magnitude of Game 2. She scored 27 points in that Game 2 win and paced the Lynx that night. She knows that a loss puts Minnesota in a hole that many would believe to be insurmountable.

“We definitely look at Game 2 as a must-win situation,” Augustus said. “You don’t want to go to Indiana and be down 0-2. Our focus is to come out, be aggressive and take care of what we need to take care of here.”

Despite being in different situations, both teams share similar mentalities with regards to Tuesday night’s showdown. The feeling around both teams appears as if Game 2 will set the tone for the rest of the series.

“[Mentality] doesn’t change,” said Fever center Erlana Larkins. “The nerves of Game 1 are gone and Game 2 is going to be a different environment. They are going to come with some adjustments and we are going to come with some as well.”