Caitlin Clark came out on Monday to clear the air that all is good and fine between her and coach Stephanie White. Coach White as well has done the same, with both repeatedly stating that they will “ride for each other.” However, as it appears, the damage is already done, and quite a number of fans, analysts, and even NBA champion Jeff Teague have not excused coach White’s role in the clash she had with Caitlin Clark during the Indiana Fever’s loss to the Portland Fire.

For Teague, coach White is simply not a good coach. And he said that plainly on Monday’s episode of the Club 520 Podcast, which he hosts alongside DJ Wells, Bishop “B Hen” Henningan, and his brother, Marquis Teague. In that particular episode, the crew was reacting to the viral clip showing the heated exchange between Clark and White. Amid the various opinions being shared on the podcast, Teague did not mince words, simply stating, “She’s a bad coach, she’s a bad coach.”

Labeling Stephanie White a bad coach based solely on that Portland Fire game clash seems like a significant overreaction. But then, as it appears, the game plan she put out against the Portland Fire, as well as some of the in-game decisions she made, have certainly raised questions. For example, in that same game, she took Caitlin Clark off the floor after Clark contributed to all eight points during Indiana’s opening 8-2 run. She also took Aliyah Boston out at the same time. That decision was immediately followed by a 13-2 run from the Fire, completely shifting the momentum of the game.

But then the tactical aspect of the game that seems to have led to that clash was the fact that the Portland Fire appeared to be running schemes specifically designed to apply intense pressure on Clark, and it was working. White, as the coach, naturally had the responsibility of making adjustments to counter that strategy. Instead, in what appeared to be an effort to get Clark more effective on the defensive end, the situation escalated into a heated exchange, with White visibly yelling and Clark firing back. Teague, for that reason, also seemed to believe White’s job could eventually be in danger. “Oh, yeah. She’s getting fired,” he said.

But then, that also seems to be an overreaction. Although such an outcome could eventually happen if the rift between coach and player continues without proper resolution, that does not appear to be the case right now. Both Clark and White have since come out publicly to address the situation, insisting that everything is fine between them. Specifically, during the team’s practice on Monday, both granted interviews and pointed out that incidents like this are not uncommon in sports.

Clark’s exact words were: “I think a lot of these things happen all the time. I ride for Steph. Steph has my back more than anybody. It’s just two people being competitive, two people that really want to win.” And that was essentially the same message White delivered. “It’s coaching, it’s what it is. And I don’t often think it becomes an issue if you’re watching it in men’s sports. My relationship with Caitlin is great. I love Caitlin. I ride with her. We have a great relationship,” Stephanie White said.

And of course, situations like this happen all the time in sports. But even though the issue appears resolved for now, it will only truly fade away if it does not surface again. It will also help if the Fever start winning games. Winning has a way of relieving tension, quieting criticism, and perhaps even proving Teague wrong. Indiana’s next game comes against the Atlanta Dream. And in some ways, it is beginning to look like a must-win contest for Stephanie White, Caitlin Clark, and the Fever.

Indiana Fever’s Next Game: A Reignition of the Clark-Reese Rivalry

Alongside all the tension that comes with the Clark-White clash and Indiana’s current two-game losing streak, the Fever’s next game against the Atlanta Dream now has another layer of intrigue. Beyond simply trying to get back to winning ways, it will also serve as another chapter in the Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese rivalry. As such, it does seem like an even more must-win, or perhaps more accurately, a must-perform game for Clark now.

The Indiana Fever are heading into this matchup with a 4-4 record after dropping their last two games. Clark specifically enters the contest averaging 20.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game. She currently ranks fifth in the league in scoring and leads the WNBA in assists. However, it is not all smooth sailing for Clark heading into this game. Her last three outings have disrupted her rhythm, highlighted by a season-low six-point performance against the Portland Fire. She has also struggled with turnovers and has repeatedly found herself in foul trouble, particularly during more aggressive defensive battles.

On the other end, the Atlanta Dream are entering this matchup with a 6-2 record and on the back of two consecutive victories. Reese is also coming into the game with averages of 13.0 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per contest. She currently leads the league in rebounding average. But all is not entirely perfect for Reese either. She is averaging four turnovers per game and has also faced struggles with her shooting efficiency throughout portions of the season.

But above all that, this is definitely a game that the entire WNBA is anticipating. Whoever comes out victorious will hand their fanbase the bragging rights until the next meeting between these two stars on June 19.