The Indiana Fever have been battling through a brutal stretch of games recently, and head coach Stephanie White took a moment to express gratitude for the outpouring of support from loyal fans.
As a whole, the WNBA has been facing a stream of controversy and criticism lately, but White is choosing to see the silver lining.
Stephanie White Is ‘Thankful’ for Indiana Fever Fans, Players
Following the Fever’s 98-87 win over the Dallas Wings on Friday, White sat down with the media to express gratitude for the ongoing support. Her comments come in the wake of a string of off-court controversies that have affected the Fever in recent weeks.
“It means a lot,” said White in quotes shared by journalist Angela Moran. “We love each other in that locker room, and there are a lot of people who are trying to tear it apart. When we say we’re a family, we mean that. That doesn’t mean we always get along; it doesn’t mean we always agree, but at the end of the day, we circle our wagons and have each other’s backs. I love every single one of them… It means a lot to me personally, and obviously any time you get an ovation from the crowd, it’s nice.”
White was booed by the Fever fans on Tuesday amid a string of controversies surrounding the team. She had initially downplayed the DiJonai Carrington-Sophie Cunningham incident, which seemingly did not go down well with the Fever fanbase.
In the wake of the incident, some even called for White to be fired. However, the Fever locker room came to the defense of the head coach.
On Friday, White was quick to thank the ‘true’ Fever fans and the team’s roster for having her back.
“Our fans, the true Indiana Fever fans, are amazing. They’ve been incredible to me for a long time. They’ve been around a long time, but more than anything, I’m thankful for this group of women and men on our staff, and I’m thankful that we can lift each other up when need be,” White added.
“It means a lot to me personally… I’m thankful that we can lift each other up when need be, and they have been lifting me up.”#Fever HC Stephanie White on her players’ support and the fans’ cheers tonight
Adds the “true Indiana Fever fans are amazing.”@WISHNews8 | @wrtv pic.twitter.com/jtHOv6KADQ
— Angela Moryan (@AngelaMoryanTV) August 15, 2026
Indiana is 22-12 overall ahead of its next match, scheduled for Sunday at 5 p.m. ET against the Atlanta Dream. This record places the Fever fourth in the league, just behind the Las Vegas Aces (24-11), the Golden State Valkyries (24-9), and the Minnesota Lynx (28-7).
White is now in her second year coaching Indiana, but she has a previous history with the franchise. She has a long history of coaching some of the WNBA’s most prolific athletes, including Caitlin Clark, DeWanna Bonner, and Kelsey Mitchell.
As Indiana navigates the remainder of its August schedule, the team is gearing up for another grueling stretch on the court. The franchise will need to continue stepping it up on both sides of the ball, relying heavily on the offensive leaders, including Mitchell (24.3 points per game), Clark (21.9 points per game), and Aliyah Boston (16.9 points per game).
Defensive prowess will be equally as important, but the Fever must find a way to take early leads and widen the gaps. White appears to be feeling a well-deserved boost in confidence, which should help steer Indiana in the right direction.
