Stephanie White Lauds Fever’s Ball Movement and Defense Without Caitlin Clark in 4th Quarter vs. Dream

Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White said the team fared well in Thursday’s 108-101 loss to the Atlanta Dream in the fourth quarter without Caitlin Clark.

Clark was benched between the 8:41 mark and the 3:16 mark of the final frame after picking up her fifth foul.

The Fever went on a 13-3 run to tie the game 93-93. After Clark entered the game again with 3:16 left, the Dream went on a 13-6 run to take a seven-point lead with 26 seconds left.

Here’s what White told reporters about the Fever’s spirited run in Clark’s absence (via Indiana Fever YouTube):

“I thought that group really dug in on the defensive end of the floor. Got stops, we rebounded it well. And we moved it well on offense. … The ball got side to side, we got some higher- quality looks and knocked them down.”

Clark’s usage, struggles to guard the ball, ill-timed shots and inaccurate passes that led to five turnovers were widely criticized after the game. The Fever’s 13-3 run in her absence further proved the critics’ point. White’s comments about the Fever’s improvement in those areas without Clark only serve to highlight the superstar’s shortcomings.

The numbers also back it up, as the Fever shot 5-for-6 in those five minutes sans Clark and outrebounded the Dream 5-2.

WNBA reporter calls out Stephanie White for not using challenges to help Caitlin Clark

WNBA reporter Robin Lundberg called out Fever coach Stephanie White for not using challenges to save Caitlin Clark from foul trouble. White stayed put on the sidelines in the fourth quarter when Clark got her fifth personal and was limited the rest of the frame.