Coach White Postgame Press Conference
Clarendon, Butler Show Right Stuff in Preseason Victory
INDIANAPOLIS – Two players looking to solidify their WNBA careers assumed major roles Friday as the Indiana Fever capped their preseason schedule with a victory.
Layshia Clarendon and Briana Butler each scored 13 points, and Butler added a team-leading six rebounds, to push the Fever past the Washington Mystics, 76-74, at Indiana Farmers Coliseum. Veteran Marissa Coleman led Indiana with 19 points as her team concluded the preseason with a 1-1 mark.
For Butler, the day represented another chance to showcase her skills in professional basketball. Heading into her fourth year, the 6-foot guard has spent time with Washington, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Connecticut. She has averaged 4.5 points in 51 career games.
Butler played in Belgium this past winter, turning in one of her strongest performances with a scoring average that ranged between 14 and 18 points. That, and her WNBA experience, appealed to the Fever, who signed her in February.
“You never have to question whether (Butler) is going to be ready or not,” said Stephanie White, the Fever’s first-year coach. “She’s always ready; she’s always engaged. She’s one of those players who just have great value because of a lot of those intangible qualities.”
And Butler fits nicely into Indiana’s get-the-ball-and-go plan for 2015.
“She’s a high-energy player,” White said. “When we’re predicated on getting defensive stops and getting rebounds in order to run our transition break, you need high energy. I don’t want to have to beg players to play hard.”
Begging won’t be necessary with Butler, a college standout at Southern Cal. She has a firm grasp on the opportunity that Indiana offers.
She signed with the Fever in large part, she said, because she detected a “championship vibe” here and felt she could learn from veterans such as Tamika Catchings, Briann January and Erlana Larkins.
“Personally,” Butler said, “I believe I can play in this league. I wanted to come in and prove I could do that. I’ve been rejected numerous times (at other WNBA stops), and obviously that’s going to fuel my fire a little bit.”
For Clarendon, who begins her third year with the Fever, the chance to thrive in Indiana’s new offense is a captivating thought.
Clarendon, drafted by the Fever at No. 9 overall in 2013, has averaged 4.2 points in each of her two seasons. The point guard from the University of California didn’t play overseas this past winter, choosing instead to work on her 3-point shooting and other skills with personal instructors.
Clarendon’s goal for 2015 is simple and direct. “Just to play with more confidence and realize I belong here and have some fun,” she said. After a pause, Clarendon added that “kind of turning the corner with my career” is the next step.
White lauded Clarendon’s play in Friday’s victory. In 28 ½ minutes, Clarendon hit 6-of-11 from the floor, including making her only 3-point attempt, while adding four rebounds and two assists with two turnovers.
“I think it’s a critical year for her,” White said. “She’s gotten stronger. She’s worked on her body. She’s done a lot of individual skill work. Now she just has to transition all of that stuff into game mode.”
POSTGAME NOTES
Indiana struggled at times with its inside defense against the Mystics. Washington’s front-line starters hit 19-of-29 field goal attempts, including an 8-of-8 showing by forward Emma Meesseman. Indiana played without Catchings and Larkins, who rested. “We’re just going to have to get creative,” White said. “We have to play small and get creative in how we defend teams and keep them from getting the ball (inside).” … The Fever waived four players hours after Friday’s game: Sydney Carter, Alicia DeVaughn, Chelsea Gardner, and Ty Marshall … Overall, White liked what she saw Friday in her first victory as a head coach – albeit a preseason one. “I’m really happy with our effort and energy. We have a great group of women who compete every single day and every possession,” she said.
Postgame Interview: Layshia Clarendon
Postgame Interview: Briana Butler