Caitlin Clark missed the Indiana Fever's game against the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday as she continues her recovery from a back injury. Despite her absence, Indiana still managed to win, defeating Las Vegas 84-68.
Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston led the way for Indiana, with the former scoring 27 points and the latter posting a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds.
It certainly didn't help the Aces that they were without their best player in A'ja Wilson, who is still nursing a right ankle injury. However, Indiana's defense made life hard for the rest of the team, with no one scoring more than 15 points.
Jackie Young was the Aces' best scorer with 15, followed by Jewell Loyd who had 12.
Indiana's defense limited the Aces to 21.1% (4-of-19) shooting from deep. The Fever also did well forcing 13 turnovers against the Las Vegas Aces, scoring 13 points off those Las Vegas mistakes.
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Stephanie White Comments on Fever's Lack of Turnovers
One stat from the Fever's performance that stood out to White was their turnover total. Indiana committed just seven turnovers, which was a season-low for the team.
Prior to Sunday's game, the Fever had not recorded a single-digit turnover game this season. Their previous season low was 11 turnovers against the Washington Mystics on May 15. They still lost that contest in overtime.
"We did a lot of great things," White told her players in the locker room after the win. "I'm sure this has to be a season-low: seven turnovers."
"You take care of the ball, you give yourself a chance, right?"
The Fever have the second-highest turnover average in the WNBA at 15.3 per game. That has been a huge problem for them. Even with a potent offense, their turnover issue has often allowed opponents to stage comebacks.
That being said, it's easy to understand why White was delighted to see her team take care of the ball.
Stephanie White Accused of Shading Caitlin Clark
Several fans, however, expressed belief that White was taking a shot at the absent Clark with her turnover statement. Clark leads the WNBA in turnovers per game at 4.6.
"That is straight up CC shade," a commenter wrote. Another one said, "Stephanie White is my kind of shady... "a season low 7 turnovers."
"Lol she’s lowkey shading CC," a follower added.
A poster noted, "Stephanie White definitely threw some shade at Caitlin Clark here. I wouldn't even say it was subtle."
"Have to throw season low in turnovers in there. Just trade Caitlin. It is beyond clear that Steph White does not want Caitlin on her team. This [expletive] is just so sad. I feel so bad for Caitlin!!" an angry social media user stated.
"Her system works when CC is not in... CC interrupts her system because CC is her own System," a Fever fan shared.
"[Expletive] she came in hot. That was definitely CC shade," a seventh commenter said.
For what it's worth, White has been critical of Clark and the Fever's turnover issues all season long. In its June 20 loss to the Atlanta Dream, Indiana committed 10 turnovers in the third quarter, with Clark accounting for five of them.
White blamed the turnover problem for the defeat, and while she didn't mention Clark, her desire for the team to limit its turnovers was clear.
