Fever Coach Stephanie White Makes Emotional Statement After Win Against Sky originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Indiana Fever received some terrible news on Friday after it was revealed that both Aari McDonald and Sydney Colson suffered season-ending injuries in their 35-point blowout loss to the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday.
This is an undeniably massive blow for the Fever, who are still without Caitlin Clark due to a lingering groin injury. The two-time All-Star sat out a 10th straight game on Saturday against the Chicago Sky, which meant that Indiana did not have a healthy true point guard for the rivalry matchup.
The Fever battled through adversity, though, and they still ended up dominating an also shorthanded Sky side that did not have the services of Angel Reese due to a back injury. Despite the shortage in personnel, Indiana still blew out the Sky, 92-70, to mark its fourth win against its rivals in four matchups played this season.
After the victory, coach Stephanie White took the podium for her postgame press conference. The veteran shot-caller took the opportunity to send a heartfelt message to her team.
“I look at them like I look at my kids,” she said, via Fever beat reporter Brian Haenchen of IndyStar. “You sit back and smile. You see how they come together and how they bounce back.
“I’m proud of them, because it’s not easy. … This job isn’t easy. They go through a lot, but when you love who you come to work with, that makes it worth it.”
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Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White had a strong message for her team after Saturday’s win over the Chicago Sky. © Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Kelsey Mitchell led the way for the shorthanded Fever in this one with a game-high 26 points. Sophie Cunningham and Aliyah Boston scored 16 and 15 points, respectively, while Lexie Hull broke out of her shooting slump with a 17-point eruption.
As White said, this team deserves a lot of credit for how they’ve responded to adversity. They still have a long road ahead, but Saturday’s win against their biggest rivals is certainly a step in the right direction for the Fever.
Related: Caitlin Clark Pays Tribute to Indiana Fever Teammate With Her Outfit for Sky Game
Related: “This Is Crazy:” Fever’s Sydney Colson Responds to Strong Message From Chicago Sky Star
Related: Caitlin Clark Caught Booing Fever Coach Stephanie White During Sky Game
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
