Caitlin Clark hit an incredible 3-pointer to keep the Fever alive against the Mystics, but she didn’t take the shot at the end of OT – which led Jason Whitlock to call for Stephanie White’s dismissal
18:20 ET, 16 May 2026Updated 18:20 ET, 16 May 2026
Stephanie White has been criticized for her treatment of Caitlin Clark in the Fever’s loss to the Mystics(Image: Getty Images)
Stephanie White should get “fired” after the Indiana Fever head coach took the ball out of Caitlin Clark’s hands in their latest loss, according to one outspoken pundit.
On Friday, Clark scored a season-high 32 points, but it was not enough as the Fever fell 104-102 to the Mystics. The loss saw the Fever drop to a 1-2 record on the season, and after the game, Clark sounded the alarm over a ‘disappointing issue’ that led to the loss.
Clark starred even in defeat, although she had to wait to get her shot to fall. Having entered the fourth quarter on a 2-of-15 shooting night, Clark caught fire with back-to-back 3-pointers before eventually connecting on a game-tying buzzer beater.
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Her incredible shot was part of the Fever’s comeback, which saw Indiana outscore Washington 31-22 to force overtime. In overtime, the Mystics led when the Fever appeared to draw up a play to get their best player an open look.
But Clark was tightly guarded, and with the Fever needing to score to keep the game alive, she acted as a decoy. This freed up teammate Lexie Hull to take the game-tying shot, which ultimately fell short.
Former columnist and current sports media presenter Jason Whitlock took to social media to vent his fury at the end of the game. He called for the Fever to burn it down, emphasizing that Clark needed to be the one to take the shot.
“This game should change everything in the Fever organization,” Whitlock posted on X. “Fire Stephanie White and the whole organization built around Caitlin Clark.
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Caitlin Clark scored 32 points against the Mystics, including the game-tying 3-point shot that forced overtime(Image: Getty Images)
“Boston’s contract makes no sense if she’s not in pick-n-roll with Clark. You cannot put the toothpaste back in the tube. It’s Caitlin’s team. Period.”
After the game, White was specifically asked about Clark’s game-tying shot that took the contest to overtime. But the Fever coach appeared unwilling to praise the two-time WNBA All-Star.
“I thought our whole group showed resilience in that rally we showed the ability to make tough shots,” White told reporters. “We showed the ability to make tough shots. We had some really good time and execution moments, offensively and defensively… we just have to have more of it consistently.”
Clark starred in the fourth quarter and added eight assists in a fine performance. Meanwhile, Kelsey Mitchell finished with 24 points while Aliyah Boston only played 20 minutes — and scored nine points — as she left the game with two minutes remaining due to a lower leg injury.
The Fever host the 1-2 Seattle Storm in their next game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday.