Head coach Stephanie White thankful for Fever fans and players after loud home ovation

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — On Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Fever head coach Stephanie White received a loud ovation just before Indiana tipped off against the Dallas Wings.

The cheers carried extra meaning for White, coming after recent online criticism and claims that she hasn’t done enough to stand up for her players.

“It means a lot,” White said. “We love each other in that locker room. We know that there’s a lot of people out there that are trying to tear it apart. When we say we’re a family, we mean that. Doesn’t mean we always get along; doesn’t mean we always agree. But at the end of the day, it means we circle our wagons, and we have each other’s back. I love them. I love every single one of them.”

Since Indiana’s last home game on Tuesday, multiple Fever players, including Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell, have publicly defended their head coach, praising her leadership amid intense national attention.

After Indiana’s 98-87 win over the Wings, White said she’s grateful for both the support from Fever fans and the tight-knit locker room she can always lean on.

“We couldn’t go to work every day if we didn’t have each other’s back,” White said. “Not in this league; it’s too hard. It mean...