There was no shortage of controversy in the game as the Indiana Fever took on the Chicago Sky at the United Center in Chicago. The game started on a controversial note with Chicago’s DiJonai Carrington getting ejected for a flagrant foul 2 against Indiana’s Sophie Cunningham in the very first quarter. While Indiana coach Stephanie White did agree with the on-court call, her view of the incident was a little different from the game’s commentators.
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“Yeah, I mean, look, it was a hard foul. I don’t think that DiJonai intentionally came out to, to get her across the neck like she did, but it did happen, and I thought it was the right call,” White said in the post-game press conference. “But you know, one of the things about Nae is that she’s going to play her butt off, man. She’s going to compete.
“Nobody’s going to go walking in for a layup. And so, I’m not, I don’t oppose the hard foul. But I also don’t think that she intentionally went for the neck.”
With 1:59 left in the first quarter, Sophie Cunningham was driving for a fast break layup. However, Carrington approached her from behind and hit her on the head and neck with her left hand, which resulted in Cunningham falling and hitting the hardcourt. While Cunningham did get up soon afterward, the players had to be separated as she charged towards Carrington, for what was a completely uncalled act in her opinion.
“Clearly I think it was unnecessary,” Cunningham said. “I’ve never really spoken to her, and I have no beef with her, but I guess she has some pent-up stuff. I popped up. I’m not going to let anyone just do that to me. I think everyone knows that. I think that’s why she did it, because she wants attention.”
Meanwhile, the commentators on ABC and even ESPN knew right away that the foul looked very much intentional. Carrington tried to sweep the ball out with her right hand and could’ve kept her left hand down. Instead, she slapped it right across Cunningham’s face.
While no one can say for sure as to what the underlying intentions, if any, were in Carrington’s mind, the controversy didn’t end there as Carrington soon posted about the incident on her social media.
“WHITE PRIVILEGE,” Carrington posted from the locker room after ejection, tagging the Indiana Fever.
The fans were quick to react, with some even criticizing the Fever coach for her different take.
“I’ve seen saying Steph needs to be fired for over a year. The reason she never defends Caitlin is because she agrees with the rough play. In fact, she taught DiJonai and AT how to play this way. She was there when AT clotheslined Angel. She backed it,” one fan said, referring to the fact that Carrington’s playing style might have been influenced by White herself when the two were with the Connecticut Sun.
The criticism surrounding White didn’t start with this incident. It has been a talking point throughout the season, with fans and analysts questioning some of her decisions.
Early in the season, Jason Whitlock was among those to raise concerns after Indiana’s 102-104 loss to the Mystics. He labeled White’s decision-making “coaching malpractice,” pointing to her choice to limit the time Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston shared the floor.
Another issue fans have had with White is how she has used Caitlin Clark. There has been plenty of frustration over Clark spending more time off the ball than running the offense, even though the Fever star herself has backed the change.
“We gotta calm down, this is just de-escalation… because there’s race war on twitter after every fever game,” another fan said, highlighting that not everything should be blown out of proportion in an Indiana game.
“You can appreciate someone’s passion for play and also call them out for losing their cool and focus making a horrible decision and foul. Many coaches have in the past and will in the future……except this one,” another fan added.
“Whose team are you coaching?” one fan called out coach White for not defending Cunningham with more rigor.
“Way to have your players back,” another fan echoed the sentiment reflected by Fever fans, who think White should have taken a more prominent stance for Cunningham.
Regardless of the criticism White is facing, it would be unfair to overlook the impact she has had on the Fever lately. She guided Indiana to an 8-2 record in July and was rewarded with the Coach of the Month award for her efforts.
The Fever currently sit fourth in the standings at 20-12 and are on course to make the playoffs for a second straight season under White. Whatever decisions she has been making on the court, the results suggest they are working.
The win over the Chicago Sky was another example. Indiana shot 51% from the field, outrebounded Chicago 34-30 and scored 46 points in the paint. It was hardly a straightforward night, with six ties, four lead changes and three technical fouls, but the Fever still found a way to hold their nerve and come away with a four-point victory. When things don’t go their way, they are still finding ways to get the job done.
Two narrow losses to the Lynx and Aces may have raised questions about the Fever’s credentials, but the bigger challenge has been everything happening around the team. With rallies following them on the road and Sophie Cunningham facing a wave of boos every time she touches the ball, staying focused has hardly been easy.
And that’s where White deserves credit. Despite all the noise surrounding the team, she has managed to keep the Fever locked in on basketball. Through one of the most distracting stretches of their season, Indiana has continued to compete, stay composed and find ways to win.
Up next are the Liberty, and after everything Indiana has dealt with lately, the Fever will be hoping for a game where the biggest talking point is simply what happens between the lines.