The Indiana Fever are adjusting to life without Caitlin Clark. The superstar will be sidelined for at least two weeks (possibly more), and the team recently dropped its first game without her. Head coach Stephanie White had some strong, well-thought-out words for the league’s officials after the game.
Fever Coach Stephanie White Not Pleased With Consistency of Officiating
Clark was off to a hot start in 2025 before reinjuring her left quad that had limited her during the preseason. She averaged 19.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 9.3 assists in Indiana’s first four games, and veteran Sydney Colson took Clark’s spot in the starting lineup.
Colson hadn’t averaged more than 5.1 points per game in her WNBA career, and she stayed under that number, scoring just four points in 31 minutes. The Fever lost 83-77 to the Washington Mystics, and White kept her composure while delivering a strong message after the game.
Fever reporter Chole Peterson tweeted, “When asked by a reporter if she thinks the league should protect players from ‘intentionally rough play,’ White says: ‘I don’t feel like there’s any more intentionally rough play than there is in any basketball game.’ Mentions wanting consistency from refs as the biggest thing.”
When asked by a reporter if she thinks the league should protect players from “intentionally rough play,” White says: “I don’t feel like there’s any more intentionally rough play than there is in any basketball game.”
Mentions wanting consistency from refs as the biggest thing. pic.twitter.com/RLmDQsqsOn
— Chloe Peterson (@chloepeterson67) May 29, 2025
White’s full comments were, “I don’t feel like there’s any more intentionally rough play than there is in any basketball game. Men’s or women’s, really. Obviously, I think we can do better in certain areas as far as how we call the game. Consistency with how we call the game. Protecting. We’ve made a real point to protect airborne shooters on the perimeter. I don’t think we do as good of a job at that near the rim.”
“Are we going to say that we want a free-flowing offensive game, or are we going to have tough, grind-out physical games? Whatever way it is, the players will adjust, and coaches will adjust. But we can’t have it be one way one quarter, another way another quarter. I don’t think the league has to step in and do something, I just think there has to be some improvements in certain areas.”
A reporter asked White to point out one specific area of improvement, and she responded, “Are you trying to get me fined again?”
The Fever endured some rough play in Clark’s first game on the bench, particularly from Mystics’ rookie Kiki Iriafen. Clark was even seen talking to the officials as the Fever went to the locker room at halftime.
Someone will have to step up for Indiana in Clark’s absence. DeWanna Bonner led the team with 21 points off the bench, and Kelsey Mitchell added 14 points in just over 32 minutes, but it wasn’t enough. The Fever suffered their second straight loss and will need to find an identity without Clark on the floor.
