Stephen A. Smith rips Fever coach Stephanie White as drama lingers
nypost.com • • sports
Key Points:
- ESPN's Stephen A. Smith criticized Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White for her handling of DiJonai Carrington’s flagrant foul on Sophie Cunningham, highlighting White’s initial praise of Carrington’s tenacity despite the severity of the foul.
- White faced backlash after calling the foul hard but not intentional, sparking outrage over her perceived failure to fully defend her player, Cunningham, leading to boos from fans during a home game.
- White later issued a detailed statement clarifying she did not see the foul in real time and reaffirmed her full support for her players, emphasizing her commitment to having their backs.
- Smith questioned White’s professionalism, pointing out that as head coach, she should have been fully aware of the play during the game.
- Despite the controversy, players Sophie Cunningham and Caitlin Clark publicly supported White, dismissing the negative reactions as external noise amid the team’s recent win.
