Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham have publicly supported Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White after White's pre-game remarks drew criticism. The comments came after an incident where Chicago Sky player DiJonai Carrington was ejected for a foul on Cunningham.
White initially stated she did not believe the foul was intentional but later, after reviewing footage, described the play as "egregious." Cunningham addressed the situation after the Fever's 106-92 victory over the New York Liberty on Tuesday, emphasizing the team's internal solidarity.
"There's just been a lot of outside noise," Cunningham said. "But our locker room is good. Our locker room in there, it's tight, and we have each other's backs. Coach loves us."
Cunningham also defended White's initial assessment of the foul, explaining that White had not seen the full replay at the time of her first comments. Cunningham noted White's past coaching of Carrington for two seasons with the Connecticut Sun, suggesting that White's ability to acknowledge Carrington's skills did not diminish her support for her own player.
Clark offered a more personal perspective, relating White's experience to her own under intense public scrutiny. "I think we forget a lot of times, like, we're human and she has feelings," Clark said. "There's moments that are really hard. I've been through the same thing. There's been days where I've been really upset, and you can have the thickest skin in the world, but sometimes it does get to you."
Clark also voiced concern over the perceived tendency to seek conflict over celebrating success within the league. "Our world is just like, we love to hate. We love to divide," Clark stated. "Nobody wants to see each other succeed. We need to do a better job at uplifting each other."
Both players conveyed a strong commitment to supporting White, with Clark specifically stating that the team was determined to win Tuesday's game for their coach. Clark also expressed her dismay at fans booing White before the game, calling the reaction "sickening."
White's pre-game statements on Tuesday also addressed what she termed "hate" and "divisive" forces attempting to disrupt the league. "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 declared.
The WNBA has recently been a focal point of national discussion, with the Indiana Fever frequently involved in various controversies. This includes an incident involving Phoenix Mercury player Alyssa Thomas and Cunningham's statements regarding the protection of women's sports, which sparked wider debate. The situation was further complicated by Carrington's foul on Cunningham and a subsequent social media post by Carrington.
White is currently leading the Fever, who are on a strong run and positioned to secure the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.