Stephanie White Fires Back in Defense of Sophie Cunningham Amid Fan Backlash..
Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White delivered a fiery statement on November 16, 2025, passionately defending veteran guard Sophie Cunningham against mounting criticism from fans and media.
“What’s happening to her is an absolute injustice to basketball — a complete betrayal of everything this sport represents,” White said. “How can people be so harsh? Criticizing a 32-year-old woman who has carried this entire franchise on her shoulders, shows up every week, gives her all, never seeks attention, and never blames anyone — she simply tries to win for the Indiana Fever. To me, Sophie Cunningham is one of the fiercest competitors this league has ever seen — and instead of tearing her down whenever the team faces challenges, people should be rallying behind her.”
The remarks come amid offseason scrutiny following the Fever’s surprising 2025 playoff run despite injuries. Cunningham, acquired from Phoenix, provided toughness and spacing before a season-ending MCL tear. White’s outburst highlights growing tensions over player treatment in the WNBA.
