Indiana Fever practice report: Stephanie White talks Alyssa Thomas, Lexie Hull on bonding
The Fever practiced for the second-straight day on Wednesday.
INDIANAPOLIS – The Fever practiced for the second time during the Commissioner's Cup break on Wednesday, kicking off July with more tune-up time.
Yesterday, Kelsey Mitchell discussed her path to landing a deal with PUMA and head coach Stephanie White outlined the plan for the week as it pertains to on-court work. Today, there were different conversations.
At least in some ways. Lexie Hull and White shared drastically different information. But one thing was the same: the injury report. Caitlin Clark (back), Sophie Cunningham (illness), and Damiris Dantas (treatment) all missed practice once again and weren't visible during the portion of practice open to the media.
Clark did an individual workout again. I asked White what that actually looks like. "She's with our player development coaches, with our medical staff, with our sports performance staff. Just working on some basketball skill stuff, movement pattern stuff as she continues to work her way back to full team activities."
Tony East
That Clark is doing something is better than nothing, but two straight missed practices is noteworthy. White said that Clark is doing better and called the latest injury update a "re-aggravation" for the star guard. It's too early to determine her availability for Sunday's game in Las Vegas.
Stephanie White responds to Alyssa Thomas' comments post-suspension
Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas was suspended one game for fist contact with Clark's throat in a game last week. She was retroactively given a Flagrant 2. Yesterday, she spoke about the suspension, her week since that game, and more with reporters in Phoenix.
You should watch that interview first, in which Thomas says "there's death threats out on us."
Stephanie White responded to that behavior from fans today before the Fever practiced. Her comments, and follow up questions, can be read in full below. White began with an opening statement.
White: "Before we start with questions, I just want to address what's going on with [Alyssa Thomas]. I think first and foremost, it's absolutely unacceptable. I think as a league, as a whole, there's been so much more toxicity, racism, homophobia, straight out nonsense, hate nonsense. It is absolutely unacceptable. Most of this coming from the online community. Most of this, in my heart of hearts, I believe is not coming from WNBA fans, Indiana Fever fans. I believe that this is people who are using our league, using our players, to further divisive agendas. It's not acceptable. Yes, we have to continue to protect our players. We've got to continue to support our players in our league. We get to play a basketball game. And AT was exactly right, we get to play a basketball game. And yes, that's going to come with criticism. Yes, that's going to come with fans and the love-hate relationship that they have with players and teams. That is going to come. But it's not hard to not be a jerk. And if you are one of these people that are online doing this, do not call yourself a WNBA fan. Our league is about inclusiveness. Our league is about competition. Our league is about elevating. Elevating women, elevating marginalized communities, including and being inclusive of all different walks of life. That is what our league has always been about from day one. That is what our league will continue to be about. And we will continue to compete at a high level, hold ourselves to a higher standard, continue to be on the forefront of social norms, and we will continue to support one another collectively as a league. Players, coaches, staff, support staff, everyone. We're about elevating. We are not about demeaning, demanding. We are not about continuing this narrative. And it's just absolutely unacceptable."
Myself, via follow up: "You don't coach Phoenix, but [Alyssa Thomas] said that she didn't even hear from the league in the process. Do you think that that's a fair way for them to have gone about this at all?"
White: "I think obviously when there's a lack of communication, the void is filled with negativity. I think being able to communicate, being able to be the one who reaches out first is important. If I was in that situation, I would have wanted to hear from the league. Look, none of us can control social media. The things that we can do to minimize it, some of us are in a better position than others. Myself as a coach, I don't have to get on there. Players, their brands are on there. And so it's different. It's different, and we can't control that. We know. But continuing to put whatever we can in place to support, to help. And then from a human standpoint, checking on one another. Checking on one another is important too."
Myself, via a second follow up: "She mentioned when she was with Connecticut, [when] you were her coach, that series against the Fever, she felt similar things. Do you recall that? I remember you talked about this stuff during the first round. And do you feel like fan behavior has improved since then?"
White: "Yeah, I remember that, because I remember our players talking about it. I remember myself talking about it. I don't know if fan behavior has improved. I don't feel like legitimate WNBA fans are the ones that we're talking about. I feel like it's an online community. And maybe this is my privilege and my being naive, but I truly believe that it is an online community that is using our league, that is using our players, to continue to further divisive, hateful narratives."
White then said that she has not spoken to Thomas or Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts since last Wednesday's game. She does believe that she will when the teams play each other next week in Phoenix.
You can watch White's comments in full below.
Lexie Hull talks team bonding
On a much, much, much, much lighter note, Hull shared that after the Fever practiced on Tuesday, they did some team bonding. The large gap between games in the schedule makes this a great time for something like that.
Together, the team and coaching staff went to experience virtual reality. Some played squid games, others fought zombies. Hull did the former and actually won in squid games – she played with Aliyah Boston, Justine Pissott, Monique Billings, and assistant coach Briann January.
"I didn't win any money like you would in real squid games, which is a bummer," Hull said with a smile. I pointed out to her that if it was real, her teammates would have died in defeat. "We don't need anything real!" Hull joked back.
The human element of being on a team is important. White appreciates that team bonding can help everyone gain perspective, which is needed at times during a long season. Finding joy, and time for fun, is good for any group.
I hope these short practice updates are enjoyable. The next one for the Fever is on Friday. Sign up to have the story sent straight to your email inbox.
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