Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White has drawn fierce criticism for refusing to praise Caitlin Clark despite her heroic display against the Washington Mystics on Friday.
Clark was at her brilliant best in the Fever’s dramatic loss to the Mystics, hitting five 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and tying the game up with 1.7 seconds left to force overtime.
The 24-year-old’s last-gasp leveler was a joy to behold, yet in her postgame press conference after Indiana’s eventual overtime defeat, White avoided singling her star player out for any acclaim.
When asked for her thoughts on Clark’s fourth-quarter heroics specifically, the head coach instead replied: ‘I thought our whole group showed resilience in that rally. We showed the ability to make tough shots. We had some really good time and execution moments, offensively and defensively. We just have to have more of it consistently.’
After bizarrely steering the question away from Clark, a number of fans were quick to take aim at White on social media.
Indiana coach Stephanie White has drawn fierce criticism for refusing to praise Caitlin Clark
Clark enjoyed a sensational fourth quarter to force overtime against the Washington Mystics
‘Its okay to compliment the team but to not even say a word about Caitlin who brought the team back is actually concerning,’ one user said.
Another wrote: ‘This mean girl stuff in the WNBA against Caitlin Clark is fascinatingly sadistic. Srsly evil.’
‘Clark has made the league what it is today. Before Clark, it was nothing. Why do people not like her?’ a third fan asked.
‘[The reporter] didn’t ask about anyone else. This coach is despicable,’ claimed a fourth.
While one went as far as to say: ‘White is pathetic AND incompetent. She should be fired.’
Indiana’s loss to Washington was their second in three games, having bounced back from an opening defeat to the Dallas Wings with a win over the Los Angeles Sparks.
Next up for Clark and White is the visit of the Seattle Storm to Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Sunday night.
