Caitlin Clark backs Fever coach Stephanie White after fans boo her

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark publicly supported head coach Stephanie White after White was booed by fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse during the Fever's 106-92 win over the New York Liberty on Aug. 11. The boos followed criticism of White's comments on a hard foul by Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington that injured Fever forward Sophie Cunningham and sparked a broader debate about player safety and race.

"I told (Stephanie White) that before the game, there was no way we were losing this game for her. And it's tough. That's my head coach. I hated that our fans booed her before the game. That made me a little sick, to be honest," Clark said in post-game remarks.

Clark added that the team would continue to stand behind White, emphasizing that personal feelings should not divide the locker room. White addressed the controversy in a pre-game press conference, saying she had not seen a replay of the foul before commenting and that she believed officials made the correct call. She also denied siding against her own player, stressing that player safety remains a priority.

"This isn't necessarily for the people that are in this room. This is more for an online community that's trying to create narratives that simply don't exist," White said.

Cunningham, the player who was fouled, said her relationship with White remains strong and that outside criticism has not affected the team's cohesion.

"Our locker room is tight and we have each other's backs. Coach loves us," Cunningham said.

The Fever's victory marked their first game after the incident, and both Clark and Cunningham noted the importance of focusing on the game rather than external noise.