Caitlin Clark defended Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White on Tuesday night after fans booed the coach before the team beat the New York Liberty 106 to 92.
"I hated that our fans booed her before the game," Clark said after the victory. "That made me a little sick, to be honest. There was no way we were losing this game for her. We're going to ride for her, and we're always going to have her back."
White faced criticism recently for her reaction to a hard foul on Fever player Sophie Cunningham. Fans felt the coach was not supportive enough of Cunningham.
Pregame response
Before the game in Indianapolis, White gave a two-and-a-half-minute speech defending herself and the team. She said she took suggestions that she did not support her players personally.
"It's a shame that we can't have an opportunity to talk about what great basketball they're playing. Because they are f***ing playing," White said.
"The reality is, with me, I will always lead with love. I will always lead with grace. I will always lead with humility, and I will always lead with integrity. Doesn't mean I'll always get it right. I'm also human."
White said those trying to hijack the league will not win, pounding her fist on the table as she finished.
"It won't win. We are united. We are connected. We will not be divided," White said. "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."
Before walking out of the press conference, White added she will always stand by her players, and everybody else can go to hell. Despite her comments, fans at Gainbridge Arena booed White when she walked onto the court.
Seventh win in nine games
The Fever took control of the game late in the second quarter. An extended 15 to 7 run pushed their lead to 54 to 37. Indiana held a 64 to 46 lead at halftime.
New York cut the lead to 66 to 57 with under seven minutes left in the third quarter. The Fever answered quickly to finish the quarter up by 20. A three-point play by Kelsey Mitchell and a three-pointer from Cunningham in the final minute made it 87 to 67.
Mitchell scored 20 of her 28 points in the first half and made 11 of her 16 field goal attempts. Clark finished with 22 points and 10 assists. Aliyah Boston recorded 19 points and seven rebounds, while Cunningham scored 12 points.
The Fever shot 59 percent overall and 79 percent from three-point range. Indiana made 16 of its 25 three-point attempts. Mitchell, Clark and Cunningham hit four three-pointers each. The victory was Indiana's seventh win in its last nine games.
Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu led New York with 19 points each. Jonquel Jones added 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Liberty, who had won eight of their last nine games since losing to Indiana in July.
