Fever coach Stephanie White says Caitlin Clark is being used as “a pawn in other people’s agendas”

INDIANAPOLIS — Three days after the Indiana Fever’s season ended with a semifinal loss, head coach Stephanie White voiced strong support for injured star Caitlin Clark during an appearance on the sports radio show Query & Company. White lamented the situation Clark has been placed in amid the ongoing tension surrounding the WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement.

“I hate it all for Caitlin,” White said Friday on 107.5 The Fan. “She’s a 23-year-old kid who loves to play this game and has become a pawn in other people’s games and narratives. I hate that for her.”

Earlier in the week, players’ association vice president Napheesa Collier revealed in her exit interview that WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert had suggested Clark owes much of her off-court income to the league’s exposure. White praised Clark’s ability to handle such scrutiny.

“She’s so mature for her age. I mean, think back to when we were 23. Holy cow,” White said. “She has people in her corner who can help her. She gets it. She understands the big picture.”

White noted she regularly talks with Clark to offer guidance but acknowledged she can’t fully relate to Clark’s unique situation.

“No one outside of a Tiger Woods or a Serena Williams maybe just a handful of others has experienced what Caitlin is going through,” White said. “We can offer perspective and support, but ultimately it’s a life she has to lead. She handles it admirably, with grace and humility.”

When asked whether the WNBA currently has the leadership it needs, White responded carefully.

“It’s tough,” she said. “From a business standpoint, we’ve had what we needed. But there’s another level someone who really understands the basketball side of the league. Whether that’s direct leadership or strengthening basketball operations, it’s important.”

She advocated for involving more former players in shaping the league’s future.

“The league isn’t what it was 10 or 15 years ago,” White said. “Some in leadership still think of it that way. We need forward-thinking people who understand where it’s headed.”

 

Above all, White stressed the importance of accountability.

“Accountability can go a long way,” she said. “Leadership means owning how we move the needle, recognizing and empowering the people in this league. Employees are the No. 1 asset. We’re at a pivotal moment where we need to face hard truths and have real conversations about what comes next.”