(Indianapolis, IN) — The Indiana Fever have spent much of this season surrounded by noise.
Inside the locker room, though, the message this week has been remarkably consistent: They are sticking together.
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Fever stars Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell added their voices Thursday to a growing show of support for head coach Stephanie White after some fans booed White during pregame introductions Tuesday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
“We love her and appreciate her,” Boston said, calling the boos “disrespectful.”
Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham had already publicly backed White following Tuesday night’s game. Clark said she hated hearing the boos and made clear the Fever intend to stand behind their coach.
Controversy follows Chicago game
The reaction grew out of Indiana’s 90-86 win at Chicago on Saturday.
Sky guard DiJonai Carrington was ejected after a foul on Cunningham was reviewed and upgraded to a Flagrant 2. White, who previously coached Carrington in Connecticut, initially said she did not believe Carrington intentionally struck Cunningham in the head and neck area.
White later said she had not seen a replay before making those comments. After reviewing the play, she described the foul as egregious.
The controversy followed the Fever home to Indianapolis, where White was greeted with some boos Tuesday before Indiana faced New York.
White responded before the game with an emotional statement emphasizing unity within the Fever organization.
“We are united. We are connected,” White said, rejecting what she described as divisiveness surrounding the team.
Fever answering with wins
Whatever turbulence has surrounded the Fever away from basketball, it has not stopped them from winning.
Indiana routed the New York Liberty 106-92 Tuesday for its seventh victory in nine games, improving to 21-12. The Fever entered Friday tied with Atlanta for the best record in the Eastern Conference.
Kelsey Mitchell scored 28 points against New York, including 20 in the first half. Clark finished with 22 points and 10 assists as Indiana pulled away from one of the league’s top teams.
The performance also reinforced the point Fever players have been making publicly: Whatever outside disagreements exist, they say those issues are not splitting the locker room.
Now Indiana gets another chance to keep the basketball conversation moving in a more familiar direction.
Next up: Dallas Wings
The Fever host the Dallas Wings Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET, with national television coverage on ION.
Dallas enters at 20-14 and is coming off a 94-88 victory over the Toronto Tempo on Wednesday. Paige Bueckers scored all 22 of her points in the second half of that win as the Wings snapped a three-game losing streak.
The Wings already own one victory over Indiana this season. Dallas spoiled the Fever’s season opener May 9 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, winning a 107-104 shootout.
Indiana will have a chance Friday to return the favor.
Clark and Boston were both listed as probable on Indiana’s injury report entering the game. Clark has been managing a back issue, while Boston has dealt with a lower right leg injury. Both played Tuesday against New York.
Dallas will be short-handed. Azzi Fudd has been ruled out with a right knee injury, while Jessica Shepard is out with an ankle injury and Aziaha James will miss the game because of a lower-leg injury.
That leaves Bueckers as an even bigger focus for a Fever defense trying to extend Indiana’s late-summer surge.
A win would give Indiana eight victories in 10 games and strengthen its position near the top of an increasingly crowded Eastern Conference race.
And after a week dominated by conversations about everything surrounding the Fever, Friday night gives Indiana another opportunity to make the basketball itself the headline.