Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White and Fever star Caitlin Clark had a heated exchange on the sideline during Saturday’s 100-84 loss to the Portland Fire. A frustrated Clark scored just six points in the game while shooting 1-of-7 from the field, and it was the second consecutive poor performance from Clark and loss for the Fever (4-4). A video of the exchange quickly went viral.
So, it was the perfect opportunity for the troll and engagement-baiting accounts to cook up a fake report that White is out as Fever head coach.
Well, former longtime ESPN and Fox Sports debate artist Skip Bayless fell for the false news on Sunday night.
“No surprise: Stephanie White reportedly out after repeated in-game clashes with Caitlin Clark,” Bayless posted to X. “Not saying White was wrong – but YOU CAN’T SHOW UP THE FACE OF THE LEAGUE ON CAMERA. Caitlin obviously wants a favorite of hers from Iowa, Jan Jensen. But no way Jensen can coach both.”
ESPN women’s basketball writer Alexa Philippou replied to Bayless: “This is completely untrue — and that’s straight from the team.”
And Fever reporter Chloe Peterson of The Indianapolis Star posted to X, “For those that have seen Skip Bayless’ tweet about reports of Stephanie White being let go from the Fever: I’m told there is absolutely no validity to that report. Stephanie White is still the head coach in Indiana.”
Bayless left the X post up, but a few hours later, he made a new post noting that “they’re saying reports are erroneous about Stephanie White.”
When in reality, there were no actual “reports,” but rather just somebody making up news on social media.
About Matt Clapp
Matt is an editor/writer at The Comeback and Awful Announcing.
He can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.