
Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White drew ire for not defending guard Sophie Cunningham after Sunday's 90-86 win over the Chicago Sky. She sent a fiery message to those critics on Tuesday.
Sky guard DiJonai Carrington knocked down Cunningham while she was elevating for a layup in the first quarter of Sunday's contest. The play was assessed a flagrant 2, and Carrington was ejected.
Indiana Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith called for White to be fired after saying she didn't believe Carrington targeted Cunningham's neck in a postgame news conference. Before Indiana's 106-92 home win over the New York Liberty on Tuesday, White said she felt the play was "egregious" after watching the replay. She then ripped politicians, pundits and other commentators, who claim she doesn't have her players' backs.
"The hate, the fear-mongering, the divisiveness, the stuff that's trying to hijack our league will not win. It won't win. We are united. We are connected. We will not be divided," White said while pounding her fist on the table multiple times. "Every day these women put their a— on the line. Every day. When they go low, we go high. Love will win. Grace will win. Humility will win, and kindness will win. I stand by them. I will always stand by them. Everyone else can go to hell."
Stephanie White made the following statement before tonight's game: pic.twitter.com/VkYThRldsu
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) August 11, 2026
White took no questions after her statement and then walked onto the court at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. She didn't receive a warm welcome from home fans, who booed her. That disappointed Fever guard Caitlin Clark.
"I hated that our fans booed her before the game," Clark said after scoring 22 points. "That made me a little sick, to be honest. We're going to ride for her, and we're always going to have her back."
White also has the support of Fever president Kelly Krauskopf, who released a statement before Tuesday's game.
"Coach White has done a tremendous job leading the Fever and for the second-consecutive season, has us in great position for a playoff push," Krauskopf said (h/t ESPN's Alexa Philippou). "She has kept our team focused and united, all while under the brightest spotlight our team and our league have experienced. She has the full support of leadership."
Statement from Fever president Kelly Krauskopf:
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) August 11, 2026
“Coach White has done a tremendous job leading the Fever and for the second-consecutive season, has us in great position for a playoff push. She has kept our team focused and united, all while under the brightest spotlight our…
The Fever are 21-12 and would hold the No. 4 seed if the playoffs began on Tuesday night. With 11 regular-season games left, White and company will try to prevent any more outside noise from throwing them off course.
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