The Indiana Fever's recent performance has been disappointing, falling to a 4-4 record in the 2026 WNBA season after a 100-84 loss to the Portland Fire. Despite an early lead of 8-4, the Fever struggled after head coach Stephanie White substituted star players Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Lexie Hull midway through the first quarter. This decision coincided with a significant scoring run by the Fire, which ultimately set the tone for the game. Clark and Boston returned to the court later, but their inability to regain momentum left the Fever trailing by 14 points at the end of the first quarter. White addressed the substitutions, citing a minutes restriction for Boston and a typical pattern for Clark, but this explanation did little to quell the frustration among fans who felt the timing disrupted the team’s rhythm. As the Fever prepare to face the Atlanta Dream on June 4, questions remain about whether White will adjust her substitution strategy to better support her team's performance.