You’ve likely seen the moment: Stephanie White stepping in between Aliyah Boston and a ref. Boston was fired up, mid-argument, when White calmly stepped in and unleashed on the official. Fans loved it. That protective instinct? Pure White. She’s always fought for her players.
But now, after yet another loss for the Indiana Fever, she’s not just defending, but disagreeing.
The Fever led by seven late in the third quarter against the defending champion New York Liberty, only to collapse in familiar fashion. A 98-84 loss marked their third defeat to New York this season, exposing a harsh truth: the Fever still can’t finish.
Read More: Sophie Cunningham Gets Real About Caitlin Clark’s Return to Fever Lineup
White Disagrees with Cunningham and Mitchell on the Team’s Struggles
Postgame, White was asked about a recurring issue: player awareness. Natasha Howard had suggested the team lacked familiarity with opponents. Kelsey Mitchell and Sophie Cunningham had said similar things after earlier losses.
But White didn’t bite.
“I don’t know if it’s not knowing as much as having awareness when you’re on there,” she said. “In transition, you get cross-matched. If you quiz them on the scouting report, they know it. But recognizing it in live action? That’s different.”
White went on to say, “At the end of the day, players make plays.” And she’s right, this isn’t a prep issue. It’s about in-game execution.
The Fever have consistently crumbled after halftime. They rank third-worst in the league in second-half scoring margin, getting outscored by an average of six points. The symptoms are obvious: blown leads, missed assignments, and allowing key players to heat up unchecked.
White’s frustration isn’t random. It’s a season-long trend.
Remember:
- June 19 vs. San Francisco: 13-point third-quarter lead turned into an 11-point loss.
- June 22 in Vegas: an 8-point cushion evaporated.
- June 26 in LA: 10-point lead flipped into a double-digit defeat.
Against the Liberty, it happened again. The Fever led 67-60 with three minutes left in the third quarter. Seven minutes later? Down and out. They managed just three points in that span.
Still, with Mitchell and Aliyah Boston leading the way, the Fever aren’t sinking, they’re surviving. If Clark finds her form again, Indiana might just climb back into the playoff conversation.
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