Disappointed but Determined: Head Coach Tyler Marsh and Players Reflect on Learning Moments After Tough 93–78 Loss to Indiana Fever
Head Coach Tyler Marsh stood at the podium, his expression equal parts frustration and determination, as he addressed the media following his team’s 93–78 loss to the Indiana Fever on July 6th, 2025. The defeat marked their third in a row, but Marsh was quick to emphasize growth over results. In his words and those of his players, the disappointment was evident, but so too was a quiet confidence that the team’s best basketball was still ahead.
“This wasn’t our night,” Marsh admitted. “And credit to Indiana—they played a complete game, dictated the pace, and took advantage of our lapses. But I saw moments from our group that showed me we’re heading in the right direction.”
The game began with high energy from both sides. The Fever wasted no time asserting themselves offensively, jumping out to a quick 12–4 lead behind the hot hand of Kelsey Mitchell and the inside presence of Aliyah Boston. While Marsh’s team tried to respond with quick counters in transition, turnovers and missed assignments plagued their first-half efforts. By halftime, Indiana had built a comfortable 53–36 lead, and though there were occasional signs of fight, it was clear the gap would be hard to close.
“We talked about setting the tone early,” Marsh said. “But we didn’t meet that challenge. You can’t fall behind against a team like Indiana and expect to play catch-up for three quarters. We were reactive, not proactive.”
Players echoed their coach’s sentiments. Veteran guard Jasmine Thomas, who logged 11 points and 4 assists in the loss, was candid in her assessment.
“We didn’t compete the way we needed to—simple as that,” Thomas said. “We let them get comfortable, and once they did, we were on our heels. That’s not who we are. It’s not who we want to be.”
Despite the result, Marsh pointed to the team’s third-quarter performance as a turning point—if not in outcome, then in mindset. Trailing by 17 to start the half, the team came out with more aggression on both ends. A quick 7–0 run fueled by back-to-back threes from rookie sharpshooter Dana Evans forced a Fever timeout, and the energy on the bench shifted noticeably.
“That stretch in the third quarter—that’s who we can be,” Marsh said. “The ball was moving, the defense was communicating, and we were playing connected. Now it’s about sustaining that for 40 minutes, not five.”
Evans, who finished with a team-high 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting, said the third quarter was a confidence boost for her personally, but also a glimpse of the team’s potential.
“I just felt in rhythm,” Evans said. “We had a couple good screens, I got clean looks, and once I saw the first one go in, I knew I could get rolling. But even more than that, it was how we were playing together. That’s the standard.”
Still, every time the team mounted a mini-run, the Fever responded with poise. Indiana’s backcourt duo of Mitchell and Erica Wheeler combined for 39 points, slicing through the defense and keeping the pace firmly in the Fever’s control. The offensive execution of Indiana was a problem Marsh repeatedly emphasized in his postgame remarks.
“We didn’t execute our coverages well,” he said. “And they made us pay for every single misstep. That’s what good teams do. They force you to be disciplined, and if you’re not, they punish you.”
One of the recurring themes from both Marsh and his players was communication—or the lack thereof—on the defensive end. Several breakdowns led to open perimeter shots and easy backdoor cuts, moments that killed momentum just when it seemed the team might be turning the tide.
“You can’t win games at this level if you’re not talking on defense,” said forward Alanna Smith, who finished with 9 points and 7 rebounds. “It sounds basic, but it’s true. A lot of their points came from us not being on the same page.”
When asked about individual performances, Marsh was measured. He praised Evans’ shooting and Thomas’ leadership, but was clear that the loss wasn’t about any one player. Instead, he framed it as a team-wide issue of effort, focus, and execution.
“I don’t think anyone was satisfied with what we put out there tonight,” he said. “We’ve got high-character people in this locker room, and they know we fell short of our standard. That’s the part that hurts—but also the part that motivates you to come back stronger.”
For a team still trying to find its identity halfway through the season, the road ahead doesn’t get easier. Marsh acknowledged the difficult schedule looming but insisted that adversity can be a catalyst.
“Look, I’d rather be tested now than coast and get surprised later,” he said. “This league humbles you if you’re not sharp. We’re learning that in real time. But we’ll learn, and we’ll grow.”
Thomas echoed the sentiment, adding that tough stretches can reveal character and build resilience.
“You find out what you’re made of in moments like this,” she said. “Do you fold, or do you respond? I believe in this group. We’ve got fighters. We’ve got people who care.”
Marsh also talked about the importance of staying connected as a group, especially after tough losses. He emphasized that keeping morale high and communication open in the locker room is just as important as Xs and Os.
“There’s frustration, of course,” he said. “But there’s no finger-pointing. We win together, we lose together. That’s the culture we’re building. It takes time, but you have to lay the foundation every day, even on the hard days.”
In reflecting on his own coaching, Marsh didn’t shy away from taking accountability.
“I have to be better too,” he said. “Maybe I need to call timeouts sooner, or mix up the rotation quicker. Whatever it is, I’m going to look in the mirror like I expect them to. That’s what leadership is.”
The media pressed Marsh on whether he felt the team was responding to him, especially with back-to-back double-digit losses on the record. His answer was immediate and unwavering.
“Absolutely,” he said. “This group has bought in. They’re working every day, they’re hungry, and they care. That’s not the issue. The issue is execution under pressure. We’re still learning how to win consistently. But the effort, the chemistry—it’s there.”
As the postgame press conference wound down, there was a noticeable shift in tone—from frustration to resolve. For all the things that went wrong on the court, what stood out was how united the team remained in its messaging. No excuses. No shortcuts. Just a firm belief that the work they’re putting in will eventually pay off.
“This is part of the process,” Marsh said. “You take the hits, you watch the film, and then you show up the next day ready to fix it. That’s who we are.”
Even in a 15-point loss, there were moments that revealed the team’s potential. A crisp ball movement possession ending in an open three. A late-clock defensive stop that fired up the bench. A timeout huddle where players huddled up tighter instead of hanging their heads.
Those moments may not have changed the scoreboard on July 6th, but they were markers of something deeper—progress, even if slow.
Evans, the youngest player to speak, perhaps captured it best when asked how she felt walking off the court.
“I’m pissed that we lost,” she said. “But I’m also excited. Because I see it—I see what we can be. And when it clicks, people better watch out.”
The road back to the win column won’t be easy, and no one in that locker room is pretending otherwise. But the message from Marsh and his players was unmistakable: the loss hurt, but the fight isn’t over. Not even close.
And if their words are any indication, they’ll be using this setback not as an excuse—but as fuel.
