On Tuesday, August 12, 2026, the Indiana Fever secured a 106-92 win over the New York Liberty. After the game, players Sophie Cunningham and Caitlin Clark addressed a viral pregame rant by their head coach, Stephanie White.

White devoted her entire pregame media session to defending herself after criticism arose from her initial response to an incident during Saturday's game against the Chicago Sky. In that game, Chicago Sky player DiJonai Carrington delivered a hard foul that struck Cunningham in the face, leading to Carrington's ejection.

Initially, White told reporters on Saturday that she did not believe the hit was intentional. However, by Tuesday, after reviewing footage, she described the hit as "egregious." White also praised Carrington's competitive nature while agreeing with the officials' decision to eject her.

Cunningham defended White's initial comments, noting that White lacked a full view of the play when she spoke. She also pointed out that White had coached Carrington for two seasons with the Connecticut Sun, suggesting White could recognize Carrington's ability while still supporting her own player. Cunningham did not interpret White's remarks as a betrayal.

Clark expressed feeling "sick" when fans booed White before the game. Both players emphasized team unity, with White stating, "Our locker room in there, it's tight, and we have each other's backs." They acknowledged the presence of "a lot of outside noise" but maintained solidarity within the team.

Sources