‘What Is She Doing, Stephanie White?’ — Dave Portnoy Reveals Caitlin Clark Ghosted Him For Reaching Out Over Fever Fans’ Booing Saga
· Yahoo Sports
Caitlin Clark defended Stephanie White on Tuesday after the Indiana Fever coach was booed by Fever fans inside the team’s home arena. In her postgame interview, the three-time All-Star said she “hated” what the supporters did, adding that the booing “made me a little sick.”
Clark’s comments came after a turbulent few days for White, who faced growing criticism over her response to the controversial play on Saturday involving Fever guard Sophie Cunningham and Chicago Sky star DiJonai Carrington.
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On Wednesday, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy revealed that he reached out to Clark before the viral booing incident, only to receive no response.
Dave Portnoy Claims Caitlin Clark Ignored His Message Following Stephanie White Booing Controversy
After the Fever-Sky matchup, White said she did not believe Carrington’s Flagrant 2 foul on Cunningham was intentional.
That assessment earned the ire of some Fever supporters and analysts, including Portnoy, who urged the team to fire its coach on Monday. White responded the following day, explaining that she had not seen the play in real time and did not have the benefit of replays before she addressed it.
The 2023 WNBA Coach of the Year also pushed back against suggestions that she failed to support her players, insisting that she “rides with them 10 toes down all the time.”
Clark and Cunningham both publicly supported White following Indiana’s 106-92 victory over the New York Liberty on Tuesday. Clark finished the game with 22 points and 10 assists, while Cunningham contributed 12 points off the bench. The superstar point guard revealed that before the game, she told White that they were not losing that highly anticipated matchup.
On Wednesday, Portnoy shared details of his own interaction with Clark.
“I did send Caitlin Clark a text. I’m like, ‘Listen, what is she doing, Stephanie White? You have to come defend us! Off the record, what’s going on?’ And she ghosted that text, and then I saw her publicly have Stephanie White’s back, which could carry a lot of weight if they have her back in the locker room,” Portnoy said on “Wake Up Barstool.”
Portnoy’s account adds another layer to the saga, but Clark’s public comments after the game made her position clear.
“I hated that our fans booed her before the game. That made me a little sick, to be honest,” Clark said. “We’re going to ride for her, and we’re always going to have her back.”
Portnoy said his frustration centered on White’s initial assessment of the Cunningham-Carrington play. He argued that White had “the best seat in the house,” insisting that she should just have admitted that “she screwed up.”
Whatever happened in the private text exchange, Clark’s public stance left little ambiguity. She backed White, and she wanted Fever fans to do the same.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.