Nate Tibbetts defends Stephanie White amidst Indiana Fever controversies
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 15, 2026, 10:28 PM
Last updated Aug 15, 2026
Phoenix Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts expressed support for Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White on August 15, emphasizing the unfair scrutiny she faces. White has drawn criticism from various quarters, including the state's lieutenant governor, following a controversial postgame remark. Despite the distractions, the Fever have won three consecutive games and currently sit fourth in the WNBA standings. Tibbetts criticized the league for the turmoil surrounding White, saying it detracts from the players' experiences. Fever players gave White an ovation prior to a game against the New York Liberty, showcasing team solidarity amid external pressures.
- •Nate Tibbetts voiced support for Stephanie White on August 15.
- •White received backlash after comments on DiJonai Carrington.
- •The Fever have won three straight games, ranking fourth in the WNBA.
- •Fever players showed solidarity with White, giving her an ovation.
- •Tibbetts criticized the league for external distractions affecting teams.
- 3:09 PMYahoo Sports — ‘That pisses me off’: WNBA head coach defends Fever’s Stephanie White
- 12:00 AMYahoo Sports — Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts defends Fever coach Stephanie White: ‘It’s not fair’
- 10:28 PMYahoo Sports — WNBA coach defends Indiana Fever's Stephanie White amid league discourse: 'That is wrong'
"Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White was targeted with calls for her firing for how she handled the recent Sophie Cunningham/DiJonai Carrington situation, which led to members of the media and several Fever stars coming to her defense. Over the weekend, Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts joined the fray, sticking up for White after…
"There’s been a lot of talk about the WNBA over the past few weeks, but not nearly enough of it has been about basketball. Between the fallout of Sophie Cunningham’s comments regarding transgender athletes in sports, the protests for and against her stance, and the hard foul she took from DiJonai Carrington in a game,…
"The Phoenix Mercury and Indiana Fever didn't have the smoothest season series this year, but Mercury coach Nate Tibbets supported Fever's Stephanie White.
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsAug 17, 2026, 3:09 PM‘That pisses me off’: WNBA head coach defends Fever’s Stephanie White
Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White was targeted with calls for her firing for how she handled the recent Sophie Cunningham/DiJonai Carrington situation, which led to members of the media and several Fever stars coming to her defense. Over the weekend, Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts joined the fray, sticking up for White after…
- Yahoo SportsAug 17, 2026, 12:00 AMMercury coach Nate Tibbetts defends Fever coach Stephanie White: ‘It’s not fair’
There’s been a lot of talk about the WNBA over the past few weeks, but not nearly enough of it has been about basketball. Between the fallout of Sophie Cunningham’s comments regarding transgender athletes in sports, the protests for and against her stance, and the hard foul she took from DiJonai Carrington in a game,…
- Yahoo SportsAug 15, 2026, 10:28 PMWNBA coach defends Indiana Fever's Stephanie White amid league discourse: 'That is wrong'
The Phoenix Mercury and Indiana Fever didn't have the smoothest season series this year, but Mercury coach Nate Tibbets supported Fever's Stephanie White.
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