Fever’s Stephanie White brings up double standard after viral spat with Caitlin Clark

The Indiana Fever are trying to weather an early storm after dropping back-to-back games against the Portland Fire and the Golden State Valkyries. The Fever have yet to find their footing this season, sitting on a 4-4 record.

Indiana lost to Portland, 100-84, on Saturday, with Caitlin Clark being limited to a season-low six points on 1-of-7 shooting. She also had two rebounds, six assists, and one steal in 22 minutes.

Clark had a brief spat on the sideline with coach Stephanie White in the second quarter, resulting in the two-time All-Star getting subbed out. The fiery exchange quickly went viral, but Clark and White dismissed it as a typical occurrence in the heat of competition.

In a report from The Indianapolis Star’s Joshua Heron, White brought up a double standard amid all the chatter about the verbal altercation.

“I was challenging a player. It’s coaching, it’s what it is. I don’t often think it becomes an issue when you’re watching men’s sports,” said White, who led the Fever to the semifinals in her return last season.

The 48-year-old coach stressed that she and the 24-year-old Clark are on the same page, and some people are just trying to drive a wedge between them.

“My relationship with Caitlin is great. I love Caitlin, I ride with her. We have a great relationship, and I think that the narrative of people trying to make it something that it’s not is just taking sensationalism to try to get some clicks,” added White.

Clark echoed White’s remark, maintaining that they have a “great relationship” as well. She added that she understands White’s competitive fire.

White, a former Coach of the Year, steered the Fever to the WNBA Finals in her debut season in 2015.

Sports commentator Skip Bayless falsely reported that White was fired by the Fever, earning him heavy backlash from fans.

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