Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White has confirmed that she faced league discipline after publicly criticizing officiating following the team’s loss to the Washington Mystic on May 28.
The 83-77 scoreline on Wednesday saw the team drop to a negative record in this 2025 WNBA season as they suffered defeat in their first game without Caitlin Clark, who is sidelined through injury.
White, feeling heated after the third defeat of the year, doubled down on her criticism around what she perceives as inconsistent officiating and this time she sent a shy
“Do you want me to get fined again,” White retorted when asked for her comments on the standards shown by the referees at the Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, Maryland.
Though the WNBA did not officially announce any sanctions, it appears White voluntarily disclosed that she had been fined by the league for her earlier comments against the New York Liberty.
Back on May 24, the 47-year-ol dopenly expressed dissatisfaction with the officiating, specifically citing a critical play involving Caitlin Clark and Natasha Cloud and suggested there is a bias against the Fever.
“I think it’s pretty egregious what’s been happening to us the last few games,” White stated. “The disrespect for our team, right now, has been pretty unbelievable.
“So it’s disappointing that it doesn’t go both ways, or it hasn’t gone both ways. But we also can’t allow that to consume us, right? We have got to be able to play through that.”
Despite her concerns, White acknowledged that there is an official system through which teams can appeal calls and express grievances, though she remains skeptical about its effectiveness.
“We can send stuff in and communicate our grievances, so to speak,” White added. “But I don’t know that I ever feel like the system works,”
“We’re not looking for a change. We’re just looking for consistency. You know, I felt like the second half of Atlanta, at least at our place [on May 20], was at least consistent, right, and that’s the thing that we’re looking for.”
The insistence on consistency over change highlights the Fever‘s desire for fairness and predictability in officiating rather than special treatment, and her comments underline the challenge teams face when dealing with perceived bias or uneven calls that can impact game outcomes.
Fever struggle amid Clark’s absence
The Fever are navigating a difficult period without their leading scorer and playmaker, Caitlin Clark, who remains sidelined due to a left quad injury for the fixtures across the upcoming fortnight.
Her absence has forced Indiana to rely on other players, and there is an undeniable challenge of playing without her influence. The loss to Washington marked their first game without Clark, and tensions appeared to rise as the team struggled to maintain momentum.
And White’s frustration with the officiating, especially in tight contests, reflects the high stakes and pressures the Fever are facing during this stretch. With the absence of a star player, the margin for error shrinks, making every call from referees even more consequential.
The Fever are scheduled to host the winless Connecticut Sun this Friday, offering an opportunity to regroup and potentially snap a challenging skid.
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