The Indiana Fever‘s narrow loss to the Dallas Wings left both players and fans frustrated, with post-game comments from head coach Stephanie White drawing as much attention as the final score.
While White pointed to the absence of her injured point guards, including Caitlin Clark, many saw the defeat as the result of her own in-game choices.
Speaking to reporters, White immediately addressed the injury situation. “All of our point guards are injured. I think that’s the first thing,” she said, referring to Clark, Sydney Colson, and Aari McDonald. “It’s tough… because point guards are the ones who get you organized.” She noted the team fell into “tunnel vision” and “over dribbling” under Dallas’ defensive pressure.
Yet, just three days earlier, the Fever had cruised to a 92-70 victory over the Chicago Sky without a single true point guard. In that game, Kelsey Mitchell and Sophie Cunningham handled playmaking duties effectively, and Mitchell praised the group’s grit, calling it “the most resilient team I’ve ever been a part of.”
Timeout hesitation and rotation concerns
The final seconds against Dallas told a different story. White admitted she “probably should have used” her last timeout earlier, a delay that left Indiana scrambling on the decisive possession. Critics also questioned her rotations, including giving significant minutes to a recently signed player while limiting Lexie Hull‘s time on the court.
For some fans, the injury explanation felt like an easy excuse that diverted attention from strategic mistakes. Online reaction included growing calls for a coaching change as the Fever‘s playoff push faces mounting pressure.
Clark steps in to calm her coach
One of the game’s most striking moments came in the second quarter, when White, frustrated with the officiating, moved toward a referee in anger. Before the situation escalated, Clark – sidelined with an injury – stepped in to physically pull her coach back.
It was a reversal from last season, when teammates had to keep Clark from heated exchanges with officials. This time, the rookie star played the role of peacemaker.
After the game, White did not hide her displeasure with the officiating. “I think there’s a double standard in how people get their calls,” she said, adding that Kelsey Mitchell “is held or chucked on every possession” and that Aliyah Boston is “the worst officiated post player in the league.”
Tensions rose further following a second-quarter incident in which Dallas rookie Paige Bueckers fell to the court holding her head after driving to the basket. The dramatic scene reignited long-standing accusations from some fans that she engages in “foul baiting,” a claim that has shadowed previous Fever-Wings matchups. In a rivalry where every whistle is contested, the moment only added to the animosity in an already heated season.
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