INDIANAPOLIS – Before Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White entered the media room at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday for her postgame news conference, Shey Peddy stopped her.
”I didn’t get hit by any screens,” the Fever guard told White with a radiant smile.
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White turned around and, with a broad beam of her own, raised her right hand to high-five Peddy. White’s smile communicated a sincere elation for the 36-year-old guard. Behind Peddy’s smile was an irreplaceable feeling that comes when one overcomes a hurdle that’s been in their way.
”I’ve been trying to be better defensively at avoiding screens,” said Peddy, still giddy as she walked back toward the Fever locker room.
Avoiding screens won’t show on the stat sheet in the Fever’s 97-77 victory over the Chicago Sky on Friday. But it’s a necessary achievement for Peddy. One that’ll ease her mind and boost her confidence.
Peddy is on her third seven-day contract with the Fever, who have been plagued by injuries this season. The former second-round pick is averaging 4.4 points per game with Indiana. Acclimating to the Fever during such a tumultuous stretch has come with overthinking and anxiety for Peddy. The oldest player on the Fever roster has learned to channel her thoughts by encouraging herself, through support from teammates and self-guided exercises.
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Peddy shot 6-of-7 from 3 in her first two games with the Fever and has shot 1-of-11 since then. Her one made attempt came Friday.
“I was in my head, but I realized I’m more than a shooter. I’m more than just hitting a 3 or 2,” Peddy said. “I need to pick myself up on defense. I need to do a better job of running the team. If I hit a 3, I hit a 3, but that’s not the end-all be-all.”
Despite Peddy’s shooting lull, Fever guard Lexie Hull never left Peddy’s ear during pregame shootaround.
”She’s telling me, ’Keep shooting, don’t stop shooting,’” Peddy said.
After rough games, Fever players have texted Peddy, “Let it go, on to the next day.”
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When Peddy first joined the Fever in mid-August, one of the first people she spoke with was Kelsey Mitchell. The two were once teammates in Turkey. The three-time WNBA All-Star informed Peddy to “play her game” and “don’t try to be anybody else.”
“They’ve been harping to me to get out of my head and play my game and remind me that they have me here for a reason,” Peddy told IndyStar. “I think I’m holding myself back overthinking at times, but the team has been super helpful and very patient in giving grace. They know what I’m capable of, so I really lean into them when I may get a little confused and say, ‘I know I might be messing up on certain aspects, but how can I do better?’”
To apply the advice she receives, Peddy finds a corner. On game day, Peddy finds a secluded space at the arena to breathe. Sometimes her meditation starts a couple of hours before the game or even the night before.
“I used to battle anxiety badly, and meditation allows me to remember, ‘I’m not perfect, but I’m trying. It’s a work in progress. Calm down,’” Peddy said. “Sometimes you’re scared you do wrong, and that’s when you mess up, but then you remember, ‘Play through the good and the bad, you have a whole team behind you that’s rooting for you.’”
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As she climbs her own mental mountains, Peddy is helping other players adjust. The Fever have four players on hardship contracts: Peddy, Bree Hall, Odyssey Sims and Aerial Powers. Powers told reporters Thursday that Peddy has watched film with her on the plane.
Since Powers and Peddy are signed to seven-day contracts, they aren’t eligible for the playoffs. The Fever will need to sign both to a rest-of-season contract before the regular season ends to have them available for the postseason.
The Fever can clinch the seventh seed with a win over the Washington Mystics on Sunday. The Fever close out the year on Tuesday against the league-leading Minnesota Lynx. Peddy hopes to alleviate pressure off of Mitchell at the point guard position and said she wants to “make her (Mitchell) life easier.”
Even if she doesn’t play for Indiana after next week, Peddy appreciates the Fever for reminding her that she still has value with her career nearing its sunset.
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“Even if I mess up, I’m still trying to get in the flow of playing the basketball game and just believing in myself and trusting I’m here for a reason. The coaches and players believed in me — they wanted me here,” Peddy said. “It’s not guaranteed I’ll get a chance next year. It’s possibly my last time playing in the league, so I’m taking advantage of the opportunity and taking it one day at a time.”
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: How Indiana Fever guard Shey Peddy combats anxiety to make impact on team
