Fever's Sophie Cunningham shares her theory on Aces' semifinal series comeback

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Sophie Cunningham broke down why the Indiana Fever are struggling on offense. The Fever went close to nine minutes without scoring a field goal in Game 3 on Friday in Indianapolis.

The injured Fever guard said the Las Vegas Aces adjusted after her teammate, All-Star guard Kelsey Mitchell, came out hot in Game 1.

“First game in Vegas … we were just on our s— and like it was, it was good from the jump.” Cunningham said on her podcast “Show Me Something,” which dropped during the Fever’s Game 3 loss on Friday.

“[We had a] sense of urgency. Defensive scheme was perfect. … Kelsey Mitchell is a freaking beast.”

Sept. 21: The Minnesota Lynx’s Courtney Williams (10) dribbles the ball past the Phoenix Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas (25) during Game 1 at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

Sept. 21: The Phoenix Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas (25) shoots the ball over the Minnesota Lynx’s Napheesa Collier (24) during Game 1 at Target Center.

Sept. 21: The Indiana Fever’s Odyssey Sims (1) celebrates with teammates during the Fever’s 89-73 Game 1 win over the Las Vegas Aces at Michelob Ultra Arena.

Sept. 21: The Indiana Fever’s Kelsey Mitchell (0) attempts to score a layup while defended by the Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson (22) and Jewell Loyd (24) during the second quarter of Game 1 at Michelob Ultra Arena.

Sept. 21: The Indiana Fever’s Kelsey Mitchell (0) attempts to score a layup against the Las Vegas Aces during Game 1 at Michelob Ultra Arena.

More: Las Vegas Aces one victory from WNBA Finals after defeating Indiana Fever

More: Lynx All-Star Napheesa Collier’s injury is on the WNBA | Opinion

Mitchell scored 34 points as the Fever took the first game on the best-of-five WNBA semifinals series from the Aces at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas. The Aces, though, have come back to win the last two games and take a 2-1 lead in the series. Cunningham shared her thoughts on the reason. She said Aces turned to a “junk defense.”

“A junk defense is like when you do like a triangle in two or a box in one,” Cunningham said. “They went to it because they want to stop Kelsey … our main offensive player.

“They box up, which is like zones (on) everyone else. And then someone just stays on Kelsey the entire time wherever she’s at.”

The scheme has worked well as Mitchell is 12-for-40 on field goals in Games 2 and 3. She is shooting 30% after shooting 52% in Game 1 and 43% during the regular season.

“It’s a pretty smart move by (Aces coach) Becky Hammon,” Cunningham said. “But, we have more tricks up our sleeve.”

The Fever will need to find them fast. If they don’t win Game 4 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis Sunday (3 p.m. ET, ABC), their season will end.

“We stole a game, and that’s huge,” Cunningham said. “But all the pressure is on them.”

Cunningham was asked later who she would like to see if the Fever do make it to the Finals. She played the first six season of her career with the Phoenix Mercury, who are leading the other semifinal series 2-1 over the Minnesota Lynx.

““Honestly, I don’t care. Like, I think that we are literally the Cinderella team right now,” she said.

“If you are thinking about with all of our adversity and everything we’ve been through, like we’ve seen it all. And now we just have to go perform because like we deserve to be here and like if everyone’s healthy, we 100 percent deserve to be here.”

The Fever have lost five players to season-ending injuries, including Cunningham (knee), Caitlin Clark (groin), Sydney Colson (knee), Aari McDonald (foot) and Chloe Bibby (knee).

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sophie Cunningham says Aces are running ‘junk defense’ to stop Fever

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