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I got two for you the first one that's the only team that you guys won't have taken down this season what specifically about Vegas was so tricky for you guys I think the other night it was um we just couldn't put the ball in the hole and I think tonight you know you you hold Vegas to 78 points you you keep him under 20 for three of the four quarters you know I honestly you know we miss Nine free throws at home like we battled um I just keep telling them like we're we're we're right there and they have to believe it but we just got to make sure we take care of business with things that you have to do I mean I think they only had one offensive rebound all night I mean we did some of the things that just we that hurt us the other night but you know you got to get to that free throw line and make those free throws so anything specific you'd like to see your iron out in these last two games to feel fully ready for the postseason yeah I feel like we we come out of the half and we I don't know what we need to do to get off to a better start this the second time I've had to call a timeout I think we they went on a - run and I just took it real quick and then I think we held them to 12 points after that I mean those are just things that like you know that's what good teams do like we don't you you don't have a low to come out of the half like it's the first three minutes you have to play it like it's the last three minutes of the game to start that momentum go Jacob and Chloe you kind of alluded to this with the Miss free those but Kelsey and Caitlyn both kind of had a sense of letting this one get away or kind of shooting yourself in the foot is that a sense that you have after tonight yeah I mean I you know Vegas is is one of the best teams in this league and we held them to 78 points and you know our defense keeps getting better but we've got to just make sure you know we we did have a couple defensive breakdowns late where we didn't get out to I know Kelsey Plum late in the corner um we just have to do a little bit you know better job communicating uh but like we you know we got to make sure that we're taking the best shot for our team we had some great high low looks during the game especially when they had Clark at the four you know we just got to make sure we always talk about getting that advantage that Advantage just mismatches at time we have to make sure we we take advantage of those go Chloe then we'll go Christine yeah um Caitlyn mentioned you know she knows hitting the stanson is you know a tech but it's still tough that she got it in the first quarter just what kind of conversation did you have with her about that when she was on the bench I'm sorry the first part of that question was what kind of oh hitting the St and she knows it's like a tech but you know it's still tough yeah you know you know she's just we've just got to make sure that we don't let outside things that we have no control over like affect us um especially early in the game you know I think she uh she got fou and miss those two free throws and then you know got frustrated um with the officiating at times but like that's where we've got to be better and we've got to you know handle those things it's not going to be perfect those guys aren't going to be perfect we're not perfect but I think we lost some some time with you know with that frustration so that's just something we're talking about we're growing um and then after that she came out in the second half and was you know she let it go and she was a different player and that's you know just can't have that first quarter laps like that go Christine then Alexa chrisy following up on that at halftime do you is there any conversation with her do you see a change because you're right I mean she comes out and is you know just as you said her old self incredible almost I guess she didn't quite have a double doubles it turns out but I think she did didn't she well apparently they took away an assist according to our expert over here oh okay anyway it was a double double or close and played great right well can you kind of tell walk us through that I mean is is there any conversation at halftime or or does she kind of self-reset or is there a little combination of both thanks yeah I think it's a it's both for you know I think we talked about you know just that first quarter and and we can't let that affect us so much um you know the officials let me handle the officials um and then I know she had a conversation Jesse Miller is her her um her coach that she spends a lot of time with watching video they I know they had a conversation and then I talked to her right before we started I mean she just needed a reset I mean she's you know she's just passionate she's competitive um you know she's just got to be able to move on to that next play uh Alexa go ahead uh Christie you've mentioned kind of a few different things that would apply here but what is your message I guess for to the team after a game like this or after the last um two about kind of the gap between you know the teams like Vegas that obviously they're gold standard W two championships and you guys where you guys are right there but what it kind of takes to get over the hump and beat a team as good as them yeah I mean that was my first I mean when I walked in the in the locker room they have to know that we're there like we've you know we've worked our asses off um to to get to where we are you know just being um consistent with their effort uh daily since we got here it just has been getting better ever since um on both ends of the floor and at at you know when we played Vegas early we weren't there you know and they got us but right now like they've got to really believe that we are there with those guys um and and I think they do and now we just have to find ways to not have those laws we're having um the first quarter start of the third quarter you know we just can't have those if you're going to you know that was that was playoff basketball out there tonight and you've got to make sure that you know you are um not giving them any opportunity to take any advantage of of times where you know you're frustrated or you know it's just not going our way and we take several possessions off you just can't do that with these great teams go last two Brad and Brian on the right Christie a little more kind of about the playoff conversation two losses here but can you take something from the collective of these 80 minutes that you learn about when you get to that in a couple weeks to say okay when we're in a playoff setting and we need a w on the road we can do XYZ better than we did this week yeah I mean it's it's the execution it's the the bounce back from um the frustration um I think we took what we did against them the other night and learned from it and and totally fixed some of the things that that really helped us especially on the on the defensive end again you know make making non free throws changes this game or you know just making a few of those not even all nine um when you're at home though that's you've got to put the ball in the hole from the free throw line and uh but we will we will take something from this we made it like a a playoff series you know so right now we're going home because we just lost two games so we've got to regroup figure out what we can do to get better get ready for Dallas um players are playing a lot of minutes we got to make sure we get them some rest and get what they need so we're ready to go on Sunday Brian last one you had a chance to T there with 30 seconds left and Aaliyah took the shot could you talk us through that possession and what you're were looking for in that play yeah you know people know it's going to be really hard to get G Caitlin a shot in those possessions like we want to make sure like she you know her between her and Kelsey you give them both options um in that play that we ran they had a pin and they had a a hammer action on the weak side and they're going to take away something so you just have to be ready and K AB came to me right before and she said coach do you want me to spread out to the to the corner and three I said be ready cuz they're going to take that shooter away and she was it was a great shot it rimmed in and out I mean that was a great shot this girl has gone and worked really hard on that part of the game I have a lot of confidence in her um to take that shot I mean teams are going to scheme against Caitlyn Clark and Kelsey Mitchell they're going to do everything they can to make somebody else take that three um so it's just on us you know got to find a way to to get the ball in their hands and let them take it but I was so okay with that wide open three by Leah Boston right there Tony recording in progress Kelsey that Vegas team is going to be the only group you guys don't take down this year what was it about them that was such a tricky matchup throughout the year uh they are are interchangeable I'm an interchangeable group um I think you know they at least eight that can play one through four um in different positions and you know down the stretch have been a pro you learn how how to deal with situations like that and I we feel short of trying to get that done go call than Matt yeah Kelsey you had 19 points in the first half just what was working for you when you know the flow kind of just wasn't there in the first half uh I I can't really tell you what the flow was I just I just try to stay aggressive um whenever my numbers call whenever I'm playing in space up to get to certain spots I'm do my best to get there and I you know I felt like momentum for me is always staying aggressive and getting downhill and you know making making people defend and you know I try to do a good job of keeping my teammates included in the process so for me it's about finding like Rhythm where I can and also being a complete player on both sides matth and Maddie yeah Kelsey on Wednesday um you were saying that as a leader that you needed to you know sort of help the group bring the confidence um tonight was closer uh you know you didn't get the result but um do you think that you brought that confidence enough to win I think so I think that it came down to um a little bit more Logistics um for us is about you know we we're we experienced something that we haven't experienced before tonight and I think that you know we could you utilize it as as fuel for the playoffs but I think that this was a good you know step in the right direction considering how what history says about us in playing Vegas I think we made a lot of great steps today go matd then we go Lou how do you think in a game like this how do you stay mentally sharp or poised when it's it feels really back and forth kind of roller coaster you're down 13 at one point you come back and tie it yeah um I think for one you got to be a competitor I think that's just a part of the game um but for two I think for us we we stay poison enough to get back in the game and it just goes to show what kind of group you're dealing with um so I can Pat ourselves in the back for not giving up um but not giving up is just not enough so I think we got to just keep going back to the drawing drawing board and putting him on work go Lou then we go Alexa Kelsey the other night you you described the game as a grind yeah and it didn't feel the same way today there was a little more flow after the first quarter especially but oh no it was definitely a grind yeah I mean and what made that difference and and and your offense was better yeah as a group yeah I think that I think that we did utilize our film session yesterday um to find where we can be effective on both ends of the floor um we try to adjust um to a to who AIA Wilson was and utilize our defense and let it fuel us but I think down the stretch it came down to just you know they just happen to be a really great group and hit tough shots and you know um I think a lot of positions you know was better great defense and better r at that point but I think that we did um adjust and look at our film and go from looking at film implying to what we um watched yesterday Alexa Kelsey you guys have been talking about this being almost like a mini playoff series for you guys to prep for down the road if you know with that in mind what do you feel like this group can take about what it takes to you know take down a top team and really execute uh you know against a really good squad um I think a sense of focus um I think that we could tap in a little bit more defensively um and I think the dis the discipline on both ends of the floor will help um not easy smackdowns been in the right position know Personnel I think all that plays a part into you know being a playoff team and making a playoff run um I think that we tried to do a decent job of taking what we learn if him you know go into the games but I think ultimately it comes down to being a complete Pro and I think that we shot ourselves in the foot a little bit on the free throw line so I think if we you know you know it's not the end I'll be all but that's a part of being a pro and I think that we have to take take our ways for that is to stay focused on what's right and was correct and on our discipline show that we missed free throws tonight so it could have helped but Tony last one Kelsey from a team and individual perspective what do you want to sharpen these last two games going into the postseason oh man I think if that we could stop trading baskets so to speak uh we call them kills so if we can get three stops in a row and then go score we get a couple more kills I think they'll serve in our favor um going into the playoffs because um those kills and getting those stops um why you can get them is very very important because down the stretch when you don't you kind of playing catch up and I think that we don't put ourselves in that position going forward you know they play double bake so much what is that kind of front court size their ability to spread with that group really do to stress your defense and why do you think it was such a challenge this whole season really um I mean I thought they tossed a lot of different lineups at us I think at times whether they went small with Clark at the four or whether they went big with Strokes the four um I thought we could have done a better job of getting some high lows especially when Clark was playing at the four um but I don't know I think moving the ball a little bit better obviously like we struggled to struggled to shoot it again very well I mean I thought we played really good defense and put our in a position to to win the game um missing nine free throws really hurts us so um I think we could have done a better little bit better job um adjusting and trying to exploit the certain things that you can um whether they're giving us a small lineup or or a bigger lineup go Jacob then Matt Caitlin all your points coming in the second half tonight was there any sort of adjustment you made at halftime to kind of lead to to that turnaround uh no I mean it was definitely a tough first half but um I think just you know reset go in the locker room reset and honestly proud of myself for how I finished put together a decent game um obviously would have liked to see a couple more shots go down um and make a couple more free throws but um I thought I was able to respond and bounce back well and that's that's sometimes really hard to do especially when you know you get some tough calls there in the first half that don't go your way and then you know the ball wasn't really rolling my way either to start the game so um proud of myself and uh proud of our team I thought we were resilient there was a lot of things that just didn't just didn't go our way so um but overall I think we kind of did it to ourselves um I'm proud like I said I'm proud of our defense but there was just areas where we could have you know executed a little bit better than made free throws as well go matth and Alexa yeah Caitlyn last time you hit the base of the basket uh you know that's crazy the the ref told you is disrespectful um was just wondering if you got another explanation tonight I mean they're never going to overturn that it's just one of the rules I guess um of the game so it's in the rule book it is what it is um that's why I mean I tried to get my last one taken away they just didn't take away um and it stinks because I feel like at half of my technicals this year I got one for the inadvertent contact to the face in the Minnesota game and then two for hitting the the stanion of the basket so it's like one was a complete accident and then the other two were um just a little frustration with myself so um I think I could done a better job um keeping my emotions in in check but at the same time like really so I don't know I mean but it is a rule so they have to call it and I get it it's just it's tough Alexa and Christine Caitlyn um two quick ones if you don't mind you broke the single season assist record today it's also you know the AIA broke the points record for single season or uh Angel did for rebounds Just For All this history to be made with you know you you three you individually how cool is that to see throughout the season I'll let you maybe start that one and I guess my thought I mean I think it definitely just speaks to the whole entire year and like how historic it has been for this league and how great the basketball has been for the league and you know we're not even to the playoffs yet I think that's what's so fun about it is you're just going to continue to see you know records be taken down but also I think really good basketball um and that's why it's been so fun to watch that's why the fans have been showing up the viewership has been you know absolutely crushed this year so um I think everybody's just kind of raising their game the competition's just getting better and better and it's fun as a competitor to show up in this league every night and know you have to bring your best because you know who's ever on the other side of the court from you they're going to bring their best and that's what makes it fun so um it's been cool to to watch everybody really you know take a step up and Elevate and to be a part of that has been really fun for myself too and then um just going up against Vegas obviously they're kind of the gold standard having won the last two championships what do you feel like this group has learned Leed about what it takes to go up against a team like that and um you know the small details that might matter to try beat them yeah I think I mean I think we have moments where we're where we're really good and then we have moments where we you know have some lapses like to beat a team like this I feel like we said this so much this year like we can't have chrisy calling a timeout right to start the third quarter like that's something that just can't happen for us and I feel like that's happened so much this year to start the second half is like having to use a quick timeout cuz they go on 50 run or 60 run or something like that so um I think we clean up that area but at the same time I think it should provide us some confidence you know every single time we've played this team we've gotten better and better and closer and closer and to see how far we've come from where we first started I think it was the our seventh or sixth game of the year and uh I think we gave up 99 points and lost by about 20 so and now I felt like we were really in this game and you know we convert a few more times and convert our free throws you know hopefully we're walking away with win Christine last one yeah Caitlyn so so zero points in the first half you come out and you have those two threes and the crowd's going crazy and I mean this crowd High School football night right and it's packed to the rafters unbelievable crowd can you put us in your shoes in your head a little bit what does that feel like when you're bringing this team back you get those two threes the crowd's going crazy you're doing you're stuff can you put that into words for us thanks um I mean it's definitely energizing like I feel like that's something people appreciate about my game is I play to the crowd really well I know when to um but also it helps me too like I it's not just like you know to help our entire team like it helps me I hope it's fun for them like you make a couple shots and you know that the fans got your back like the cheer they let out when I made that first layup like you could tell it was like ah finally this girl could score again um but no I mean I felt I feel very lucky to play um in this Arena and and front of a fan base that's supporting you know women's basketball like the way they are and like like it's a true sellout like it's packed to the top like people are here to scream like it's hard for us to get tickets too for our families so um and I can imagine it's hard for everybody else but um I think as a player like that's something that you just Thrive off of like hearing the crowd go crazy I think especially on defense like if you can put a little run together and go down and need a stop and you hear them and you hype them up and they listen to you like um you feel kind of powerful at the same time so it's it's definitely fun I mean I wish we could have got the got the win for him but um I know Sunday's going to be a lot of fun too