Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White delivered an unscripted two-minute statement at a pre-game press conference ahead of her team's game against the New York Liberty, declaring that 'hate, fear-mongering, the divisiveness, the stuff that's trying to hijack our league will not win,' and concluding that anyone she did not stand with 'can go to hell.'
Indiana Fever coach delivers unscripted address defending players amid WNBA controversy
Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White delivered an unscripted two-minute statement at a pre-game press conference ahead of her team's game against the New York Liberty, declaring that 'hate, fear-mongering, the divisiveness, the stuff that's trying to hijack our league will not win,' and concluding that anyone she did not stand with 'can go to hell.'
White's remarks followed a week in which several separate controversies drew public attention to the WNBA. Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington was ejected from a game against the Fever after a hard foul on Fever guard Sophie Cunningham. Carrington subsequently posted 'WHITE PRIVILEGE' on social media and tagged the Fever's account.
Cunningham said she believed the foul was 'absolutely' intentional and suggested Carrington may have had some 'pent-up stuff.' White, however, said she did not believe Carrington intended to hurt Cunningham — a position that drew criticism from some who felt she was not supporting her own players, and which White described as leaving her 'seething.'
Cunningham, 29, had previously given an ESPN interview in which she spoke out against transgender women competing in women's sports, saying 'young girls in sport who shouldn't have to go against biological men.' When asked about the comments days later she said her stance was 'common sense' and that she stood by what she said.
Minnesota Lynx head coach and team president Cheryl Reeve wore a T-shirt reading 'Trans Kids Belong' when her team faced Cunningham's Fever. Reeve said she comes 'from a space of inclusion' and described as 'problematic' any narrative suggesting transgender athletes are 'the biggest problem in women's sports.' The WNBA Players' Association issued a statement denouncing 'hate abuse and demonisation of the transgender community.'
Vice President JD Vance described Cunningham as 'inspiring.' Advocate Riley Gaines, who campaigns against transgender women competing in women's sports, also expressed support for Cunningham. Former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White announced intentions to enter the 2027 WNBA draft, which the source characterises as targeting the league's eligibility guidelines rather than reflecting genuine intent to pursue women's basketball careers. Royce White has conducted interviews in a long-haired wig since the announcement, claiming to be in his 'feminine era.'
Clark, the Fever's marquee player and the top pick in the 2024 WNBA draft, said the transgender issue was not a topic of discussion in the Fever locker room and, when asked at a press conference, said resolution of the matter was 'for leagues and governing bodies to work with their athletes to find solutions.' Eleven Republican politicians separately wrote to the WNBA asking it to protect Clark from fouls they characterised as 'attacks' possibly motivated by race. The Fever said the organisation and Clark had no interaction with the congressional group and were unaware of the letter.
Alyssa Thomas, a Black player who was suspended one game for a collision with Clark, was subjected to racist abuse on social media following the incident, according to the source.
In a separate episode during the previous season, multiple games were paused after green-coloured sex toys were thrown onto the court, with one hitting a spectator. A group associated with a cryptocurrency called Green Dildo Coin later claimed responsibility, saying it was a promotional stunt. The source also describes a scheme in which individuals placed bets on a prediction market platform, Polymarket, on when and where such items would be thrown, then threw the items themselves to collect winnings.
Cunningham, whose profile includes endorsement deals, a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover, a UFC referee appearance, and 3.8 million Instagram followers, later accused media of covering 'everything except basketball.' The source notes there are currently no transgender players in the WNBA and none reportedly about to enter the draft.
- DiJonai Carrington's full account of the foul or the 'WHITE PRIVILEGE' post beyond the tweet itself is not provided.
- The WNBA league office's official response to any of the described controversies is not cited.
- Riley Gaines's specific statements about Cunningham or the WNBA are not quoted directly.
- Donald Trump's specific statements about the WNBA controversies are not quoted or detailed.
- The outcome of the Indiana Fever vs New York Liberty game referenced in White's press conference is not reported.
- No response from Enes Kanter Freedom or Royce White addressing characterisations of their draft declarations as publicity stunts is included.
- Polymarket's response to the betting scheme involving the sex toy incidents is not provided.
- The source text supplied appears truncated; some material may be missing.
Read the original at ABC News Australia