Stephanie White Finally Stands Up for Sophie Cunningham—and Herself

Don’t boo our coach. We are Tamil and the fans don’t know what happens in our locker room. Fair enough but we saw a press conference that was an error in judgement and reply. “Winning is all that Matters.” - IU AD Scott Dolson

The Hoosier Enquirer has called for the resignation of two prominent women holding positions of influence in Indiana: Fever head coach Stephanie White and Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush.

There is an important distinction between them. White arrived with a record that justified her selection. Rush, in our judgment, did not. There is another distinction now: White responded to criticism. Rush has remained silent, as though public confidence in her leadership—and in Indiana’s deeply troubled legal system—does not matter.

White’s response deserves acknowledgment.

Following the Fever’s 106–92 victory over the New York Liberty Tuesday night, White forcefully rejected the claim that she does not support her players. She said their success, health, wellness and safety are always among her highest priorities. She also declared that she stands with her players “10 toes down” and called suggestions to the contrary deeply personal.

White’s players backed up her words with outstanding basketball.

Kelsey Mitchell led Indiana with 28 points, scoring 20 in the first half. She shot 11-of-16 from the field and made all four of her three-point attempts. Caitlin Clark contributed 22 points and 10 assists, recording another double-double while also sinking four three-pointers. The Fever made 16 of their 25 three-point attempts as a team. [ESPN reported the complete game results and statistics.](https://www.espn.com/wnba/recap?gameId=401857134)

Clark’s rapidly accumulating records deserve special recognition. She has already recorded four career triple-doubles in only 77 WNBA games, placing her third on the league’s all-time triple-double list. She also became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 600 career assists, doing so in 72 games, and the fastest to make 200 career three-pointers, reaching that mark in 74 games.

We criticized White because her initial response to DiJonai Carrington’s dangerous foul on Sophie Cunningham was inadequate. Cunningham was struck above the neck while airborne, sent crashing to the floor and left with a bloody mouth. Officials reviewed the play, assessed a Flagrant 2 foul and ejected Carrington.

Yet at the postgame press conference, White characterized the incident as a hard foul and said she did not oppose hard fouls. She also defended Carrington against the accusation that the contact was intentional.

That was the wrong response.

If White had not seen the play clearly in real time, she should have said so. The responsible answer would have been simple: *I have not reviewed the replay, so I will watch the tape before deciding whether the foul was intentional or egregiously dangerous.*

White has now explained that she did not see the incident as it happened and went directly to the press conference. After reviewing the replay, she reached a much stronger conclusion: “Was it egregious? Absolutely.” [Fox News/OutKick reported White’s complete response.](https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-sports/fever-coach-stephanie-white-launches-fiery-defense-herself-after-sophie-cunningham-hit)

That clarification matters. So does her willingness to stand publicly behind Cunningham.

Hard, competitive basketball is part of the sport. Blows to the head and neck of airborne players should not be accepted as routine toughness. Women’s basketball cannot normalize dangerous contact without eventually turning the game into something resembling roller derby. Players can compete ferociously without treating one another’s safety as incidental.

White also said she intends to lead with love, grace, humility and integrity, while acknowledging that she will not always get everything right. That is a better response than pretending no mistake occurred.

The Hoosier Enquirer therefore says this to Coach White: Thank you for answering the criticism. Thank you for standing on your own two feet and defending Sophie Cunningham. And thank you—and the Fever—for putting a 106–92 beating on the Liberty.

Our earlier criticism was justified. White’s original answer failed to meet the moment. But leadership is not demonstrated by never making a mistake. It is demonstrated by recognizing one, answering critics and correcting course.

Stephanie White has done that.

Chief Justice Loretta Rush has not. And she’s not winning, period.