Fever president sends blunt Stephanie White message amid calls for firing

Indiana Fever president Kelly Krauskopf has made the organization’s position on Stephanie White perfectly clear.

White has the full support of Fever leadership.

Krauskopf publicly backed Indiana’s head coach Tuesday amid growing criticism of White’s response to the controversial Flagrant 2 foul DiJonai Carrington committed against Sophie Cunningham during Saturday’s 90-86 victory over the Chicago Sky. Some frustrated fans called for White to be fired after she defended Carrington’s intentions and praised the Chicago guard’s competitiveness. Krauskopf, however, shut down any suggestion that the Fever could make a coaching change.

“Coach White has done a tremendous job leading the Fever and for the second-consecutive season, has us in great position for a playoff push,” Krauskopf said in a statement. “She has kept our team focused and united, all while under the brightest spotlight our team and our league have ever experienced. She has the full support of leadership.”

That final sentence carried the most weight. Whatever fans think about White’s handling of the Cunningham controversy, the Fever are not turning against their coach.

Fever leadership stands firmly behind Stephanie White

The controversy began during the first quarter of Indiana’s victory over Chicago. Cunningham intercepted a pass and raced toward the basket for what appeared to be an uncontested layup. Carrington pursued the play from behind before swinging her arm and making forceful contact with Cunningham’s face and neck.

Cunningham made the shot but crashed to the floor. She quickly got back up and confronted Carrington before players from both teams intervened. Officials reviewed the play and assessed Carrington a Flagrant 2 foul, resulting in her automatic ejection.

After the game, Cunningham said she believed the contact was intentional.

“Clearly, I think it was unnecessary,” Cunningham said. “I’ve never really spoken to her and have no beef with her, but I guess she has some pent-up stuff. So get your s--- off. That’s fine. I can take it.”

White did not share Cunningham’s interpretation.

“It was a hard foul,” White said. “I don’t think that DiJonai intentionally came out to get her across the neck like she did. But it did happen, and I thought it was the right call.”

White, who previously coached Carrington with the Connecticut Sun, then went one step further by praising the guard’s competitive approach.

“One of the things about Nay is that she’s going to play her butt off, man,” White said. “She’s going to compete. Nobody’s going to go walking in for a layup. And so, I don’t oppose the hard foul. But I also don’t think that she intentionally went for the neck.”

The comments did not sit well with a vocal section of Indiana’s fan base. Critics argued that White appeared more interested in defending her former player than supporting Cunningham.

Kelly Krauskopf ends firing conversation before it grows

White could have avoided much of the backlash by stopping after acknowledging the dangerous contact and agreeing with Carrington’s ejection. Instead, her decision to praise Carrington immediately after Cunningham was struck in the head created the appearance of divided loyalty, even if that was not White’s intention.

Krauskopf’s statement makes it clear that Indiana’s leadership does not believe the episode reflects a larger problem inside the locker room. There is also a basketball reality that cannot be ignored.

The Fever entered Tuesday with a 20-12 record and in position to contend for one of the WNBA’s top playoff seeds. Indiana had won eight of its previous 11 games and already reached the 20-win mark with a significant portion of the regular season remaining.

Firing a successful coach during a playoff push because of an unpopular postgame answer would be an extreme reaction.

White’s wording deserves criticism. The decision to publicly defend Carrington’s intentions while Cunningham was calling the foul intentional was awkward at best. But there is no evidence that White has lost the locker room or that the Fever’s players want a coaching change.

Krauskopf’s statement was not subtle. It was designed to end the speculation before it became an even larger distraction.

White may have to live with angry reactions from fans, but her job does not appear to be in jeopardy.

MORE: Stephanie White fires back at critics amid Sophie Cunningham controversy

Fever attempt to move beyond latest controversy

White also addressed the situation before Tuesday’s matchup against the New York Liberty, pushing back against online communities attempting to use the WNBA and its players to advance divisive agendas. She maintained her support for Cunningham without reversing her belief that Carrington did not intentionally target Cunningham’s neck.

That position may not satisfy everyone. White’s critics wanted a full apology or a stronger condemnation of Carrington. They did not receive either one.

What they did receive was an unmistakable message from the top of the Fever organization. White is Indiana’s coach, and Krauskopf is standing behind her.

The Fever would now prefer to return the focus to basketball as they navigate an important stretch of the schedule. After facing the Liberty, Indiana is scheduled to host Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET.

With the playoffs approaching, the Fever have far more at stake than an online argument over one postgame press conference.

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• Why Indiana lieutenant governor is calling for Stephanie White's firing