League: WNBA Sport: Basketball Country: United States Category: Breaking News

Stephanie White faces fan backlash after Caitlin Clark benched in win over Tempo

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 19, 2026, 12:10 PM

Last updated Sep 19, 2026

Stephanie White faces fan backlash after Caitlin Clark benched in win over Tempo

Summary

Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White received criticism after decisions in a 103-85 victory against the Toronto Tempo. Caitlin Clark excelled, totaling 28 points and 14 assists, but was benched late in the game with her stats approaching another 30-point, 10-assist performance. Opinions are divided among fans regarding White's choice, with some supporting it due to player safety concerns ahead of the playoffs, while others interpret it as favoritism towards teammate Kelsey Mitchell, who set the single-season scoring record with 33 points. Discussion continues among fans and analysts.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

Status Watch

•Indiana Fever win 103-85 against Toronto Tempo on September 19.
•Caitlin Clark scores 28 points and records 14 assists.
•Stephanie White benches Clark before reaching 30 points and 10 assists.
•Kelsey Mitchell sets a new single-season WNBA scoring record with 33 points.
•Fan opinions on the benching decision are split, citing concerns over injury and team dynamics.

Latest Updates

12:10 PMYahoo Sports — Stephanie White divides Fever fans with controversial Caitlin Clark decision vs Tempo

What they're saying

"
A victory over the Toronto Tempo wasn’t enough to spare Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White from some fan criticism. Returning from the international break, Stephanie White and the Indiana Fever didn’t miss a beat, rolling to a 103-85 win over the Toronto Tempo.
— Yahoo Sports

Related Teams & Leagues

Indiana Fever WNBA Basketball