0Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White has grown frustrated with the constant off-court drama surrounding the WNBA and made that clear ahead of Tuesday’s game against the New York Liberty. After facing criticism for her response to DiJonai Carrington’s Flagrant 2 foul on Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, White decided she had heard enough and pushed back against the growing conversation around the incident.

White, the 2023 WNBA Coach of the Year and a former Fever player, has generally avoided speaking out when Cunningham or Caitlin Clark have been involved in controversial moments. However, with the backlash continuing to build, she used her pregame media appearance to address the situation directly and urge the focus to return to basketball rather than the controversies surrounding the league.

Stephanie White Defends Herself After Sophie Cunningham Incident Sparks WNBA Backlash

Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White delivered an emotional message before Tuesday night’s 106-92 victory over the New York Liberty, pushing back against the growing criticism surrounding the WNBA. White took aim at what she described as an online effort to stir division within the league, saying, “The hate, the fearmongering, the divisiveness, the stuff that’s trying to hijack our league will not win.”

White’s comments came after backlash over her response to the Flagrant 2 foul committed by Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington on Fever guard Sophie Cunningham. Addressing those who believed she had not supported Cunningham enough, White said, “We are united. We are connected. We will not be divided,” White said Tuesday. “Every day, these women put their ass 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.

“Everybody else can go to hell.” White repeatedly pounded her fist on the table during the passionate address before abruptly leaving the room without answering questions from reporters. Her comments came shortly before the Fever took the court against New York and secured a 14-point victory.

Indiana Fever President Backs Stephanie White Amid Calls For Her Firing

Indiana Fever president Kelly Krauskopf has made it clear that Stephanie White continues to have the organization’s backing despite the criticism surrounding her recent comments. White faced calls for her dismissal from some fans after defending DiJonai Carrington’s intentions following the Chicago Sky guard’s Flagrant 2 foul on Sophie Cunningham, but Krauskopf dismissed any suggestion that the Fever are considering a coaching change.

“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 in a statement. “She has kept our team focused and united, all while under the brightest spotlight our team and our league have ever experienced. She has the full support of leadership.” The statement leaves little doubt that Fever leadership remains firmly behind White as the team continues its season.