印第安纳狂热队主教练斯蒂芬妮·白在赛前进行了长达2.5分钟的激烈讲话，为自己对一场争议防守犯规的处理方式进行辩护[1]。白在言论中强调了团结的重要性，表示"仇恨、造谣和分裂主义试图绑架我们的联赛，这些都不会赢"[1]。
这次讲话源自周六狂热队的比赛中发生的一起事件——迪乔奈·卡林顿对索菲·坎宁安犯规，被判为恶意犯规二级并被驱逐出场[1]。白最初接受采访时未看到回放，但在观看录像后改变了看法，称该犯规"极其过分"[1]。这一事件引发的争议甚至吸引了政治关注，印第安纳州副州长米卡·贝克维斯在社交媒体平台X上呼吁狂热队解雇白[1]。在随后对纽约自由队的比赛中，坎宁安进场时获得了观众的热烈掌声[1]。白本人是2023年WNBA年度最佳教练[1]，她在讲话中澄清了自己始终支持球员的立场[1]。
Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White delivered a 2.5-minute pregame statement defending her handling of a controversial flagrant foul, emphasizing unity and rejecting what she characterized as divisive rhetoric within the league. [1] "The hate, the fear mongering, the divisiveness that's trying to hijack our league will not win," White said during the remarks. [1]
The comments came after DiJonai Carrington was ejected from Saturday's game for a flagrant foul—level two—against Sophie Cunningham. [1] White initially did not see the replay when speaking to reporters but changed her assessment after reviewing the footage, describing the foul as "egregious." [1] Indiana state Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith subsequently called on social media for the team to fire White. [1] The 2023 WNBA Coach of the Year clarified her consistent support for her players throughout the situation. [1]
When Cunningham entered Tuesday's game against the New York Liberty, she received loud applause from the crowd. [1]