INDIANAPOLIS – "We don’t do quiet” is emblazoned on multiple walls at Gainbridge Fieldhouse Arena. It's a playoff mantra and campaign slogan for the Indiana Fever’s end-of-season awards push.
But entering Game 2 of the first round of the WNBA playoffs against the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces on Tuesday, Sept. 29, Fever coach Stephanie White and her team are trying to silence the outside noise.
After the Aces dominated the Fever, 102-85,in the series-opening game on Sept. 27, fans speculated that White and superstar guard Caitlin Clark were sending shots back and forth like two rappers sneak dissing one another when they addressed reporters in the postgame news conference.
“We both understand that social media noise doesn't really have anything
to do with what we do. I think the biggest thing for us is staying focused on our team and staying focused on what we can do to get better," White said prior to Tuesday's must-win Game 2.
White also took accountability for her shortcomings on Sept. 27, but emphasized it didn't mean there was some larger rift between her and the team’s biggest star.
“And yeah, I mean some of the offensive stuff wasn't working. But you know, sometimes you've got to get knocked in the mouth to figure things out," White said. "All of those things can be true. And all those things can be true without there being a controversy."
Clark didn't do pregame interviews on Tuesday.
During remarks from Sept 27 that White addressed, Clark was blunt when asked about what the Aces did that made things so hard for her and guard Kelsey Mitchell.
“I think they're good defenders, but at the same time, we made it worse on ourselves too," Clark said. “Our actions were sloppy. I thought what we were running just wasn't great. And nobody got an easier open look."
Moments after White's playcalling was called into question on Sunday night, White answered a question about playoff experience that some fans related to Clark missing the 2025 playoffs due to injury.
"Certainly, there's no substitute for experience. Some of them got it a year ago. But oftentimes, you know, you have to be humbled first, right? I mean, that's life, right? You don't always learn from the successes; you learn from being humbled," White said. "And so, I think for us, we know, we felt the difference in the intensity level. And the urgency doesn't always mean that we weren't playing hard or we weren't competing hard. Sometimes it's how you execute."
White critiqued the 28 points the Aces scored off Indiana's 17 turnovers. Clark, who had 15 points, 10 assists and six turnovers, gave her team an "F" for its defensive play.
On Tuesday, White made it clear she expects her team to come out with a different fire.
"If you don't get your stuff together for an elimination game, there's no pulse there, right? Like you have to," White said. "I think that's where our team kind of thrives, in those moments."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fever's Stephanie White dismiss talk of WNBA playoff rift with Caitlin Clark
