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Indiana Fever president Kelly Krauskopf supported coach Stephanie White in a statement after White gave a pre-game statement and left without answering questions.
Krauskopf said White has kept the roster focused during a high-attention season and has the organization's backing.
"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 the 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."
Calls for a coaching change have grown since the weekend. Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith posted on X on Sunday that the Fever should fire White and defend its players. Some fans booed White during pregame at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Tuesday.
The criticism followed Chicago guard DiJonai Carrington's foul on Sophie Cunningham during Indiana's 90-86 win at Chicago on Saturday. Carrington received a flagrant 2 and was ejected.
White told reporters after the game that the officials made the correct decision and did not believe Carrington intentionally targeted Cunningham's neck. On Tuesday, White said she had not reviewed a replay before that press conference. After watching it later, she called the play egregious.
White coached Carrington for two seasons with the Connecticut Sun.
Krauskopf hired White for the current job. She became president of basketball and business operations for the Fever after the 2024 season, succeeding Allison Barber. During that same offseason, she hired White to replace Christie Sides. Amber Cox also joined as chief operating officer and general manager during this period of change.
Krauskopf ran the franchise from its first season. She joined the Fever in 2000 as general manager, was promoted to president in 2012, and stayed through 2018. Indiana won the championship in 2012 and reached the Finals in 2009 and 2015 during her tenure.
She left the Fever to become an assistant general manager with the Indiana Pacers and spent six years on that side of Pacers Sports and Entertainment.
Before Indiana, Krauskopf was hired in 1996 as the WNBA's first director of basketball operations.
Krauskopf also hired White the first time. White joined Lin Dunn's staff in Indianapolis in 2011 and took over as head coach in 2015. Indiana reached the Finals in her first season on the job. She left after the 2016 season and spent five years at Vanderbilt.
White rejoined the league with the Connecticut Sun, posting a 55-25 record over two seasons and making the semifinals both years. She was awarded WNBA Coach of the Year in 2023.
Before coaching, White's playing career included stints with the Charlotte Sting and Fever starting in 1999.
Indiana beat New York 106-92 on Tuesday and improved to 21-12. The Fever are 9-3 over their past 12 games and are one of four Eastern Conference teams within two games of the top of the standings, along with the Atlanta Dream, Washington Mystics, and Liberty.
Indiana will play against the Dallas Wings on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Continue reading...
Krauskopf said White has kept the roster focused during a high-attention season and has the organization's backing.
"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 the 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."
Calls for a coaching change have grown since the weekend. Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith posted on X on Sunday that the Fever should fire White and defend its players. Some fans booed White during pregame at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Tuesday.
The criticism followed Chicago guard DiJonai Carrington's foul on Sophie Cunningham during Indiana's 90-86 win at Chicago on Saturday. Carrington received a flagrant 2 and was ejected.
White told reporters after the game that the officials made the correct decision and did not believe Carrington intentionally targeted Cunningham's neck. On Tuesday, White said she had not reviewed a replay before that press conference. After watching it later, she called the play egregious.
White coached Carrington for two seasons with the Connecticut Sun.
Krauskopf hired White for the current job. She became president of basketball and business operations for the Fever after the 2024 season, succeeding Allison Barber. During that same offseason, she hired White to replace Christie Sides. Amber Cox also joined as chief operating officer and general manager during this period of change.
Krauskopf ran the franchise from its first season. She joined the Fever in 2000 as general manager, was promoted to president in 2012, and stayed through 2018. Indiana won the championship in 2012 and reached the Finals in 2009 and 2015 during her tenure.
She left the Fever to become an assistant general manager with the Indiana Pacers and spent six years on that side of Pacers Sports and Entertainment.
Before Indiana, Krauskopf was hired in 1996 as the WNBA's first director of basketball operations.
Krauskopf also hired White the first time. White joined Lin Dunn's staff in Indianapolis in 2011 and took over as head coach in 2015. Indiana reached the Finals in her first season on the job. She left after the 2016 season and spent five years at Vanderbilt.
White rejoined the league with the Connecticut Sun, posting a 55-25 record over two seasons and making the semifinals both years. She was awarded WNBA Coach of the Year in 2023.
Before coaching, White's playing career included stints with the Charlotte Sting and Fever starting in 1999.
Indiana beat New York 106-92 on Tuesday and improved to 21-12. The Fever are 9-3 over their past 12 games and are one of four Eastern Conference teams within two games of the top of the standings, along with the Atlanta Dream, Washington Mystics, and Liberty.
Indiana will play against the Dallas Wings on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Continue reading...
