Latest news with #LisaSalters
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Indiana Fever Assistant Issues Statement on Stephanie White's Sudden Absence
Indiana Fever Assistant Issues Statement on Stephanie White's Sudden Absence originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Indiana Fever were dealt a significant blow ahead of their game against the Golden State Valkyries on Thursday. This came in the form of head coach Stephanie White having to leave the team to deal with a personal matter, which means that she won't be able to coach the Fever in Thursday's contest. Advertisement Stepping in for White is assistant coach Austin Kelly, who addressed the issue during his pregame press conference. Kelly, however, did not provide any details on White's situation, instead opting to focus on how the Fever are reacting to the sudden turn of events. "Steph's got some personal stuff going on," Kelly said. "... It's kinda business as usual. (I'm) just stepping in. Same message. Our team understands that." Kelly made it clear, however, that despite White's absence, the team has kept its eye on the goal. "This group's focused," he said. "We're refocused. It's our first West Coast trip of the year. We're focused on Golden State right now, and come to play, we're ready." The Fever did not reveal the nature of White's personal leave. However, this is not the first time that White has missed a game due to personal reasons. The first-year Fever shot-caller was also unable to coach her team on June 7 in their game against the Chicago Sky. Advertisement It is worth noting that White's partner, ESPN sportscaster Lisa Salters, has also already missed three games of the NBA Finals due to a "personal matter." Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White watches the action during a game between the Indiana Fever and the Washington Smth- INDIANAPOLIS STAR-Imagn Images It remains unclear at this point if White will be able to rejoin the team ahead of their game against the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday. Related: Indiana Fever React to Caitlin Clark's Outfit for Valkyries Game Related: Fever Coach Stephanie White Reveals Concerning Update on Tuesday Related: WNBA Issues Statement on Caitlin Clark, Kate Martin Before Fever-Valkyries Game This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fever coach Stephanie White will miss game vs. Valkyries; Austin Kelly steps in
Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White will miss Thursday's game against the Golden State Valkyries in San Francisco, California, for personal reasons. Assistant coach Austin Kelly will serve as the acting head coach for Caitlin Clark and the Fever. Kelly was a practice player for the Fever when the franchise won the 2012 championship and began coaching in the WNBA as a member of White's Connecticut Sun staff in 2023. Advertisement While the team confirmed that White will be away from Thursday's game, it was not specified why or how long the absence would be. It will be the second game that the coach has missed this month. White was not on the sideline for the Fever's 79-52 victory against the Chicago Sky at the United Center on June 7. White's partner, Lisa Salters, had stepped away from her role as a broadcaster covering the NBA Finals for ESPN and ABC that same week. It was mentioned during the broadcast for Game 2 of the series that Salters' mother is dealing with a health issue. Salters was working Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night. Advertisement White returned to the Fever this season after spending the past two years as head coach of the Sun. She has led Clark and the Fever to a 6-5 start this season. White spent most of her five-year playing career in the WNBA with the Fever, including the team's inaugural season in 2000. She previously was an assistant coach with the team from 2011 to 2014 before taking over as head coach for the 2015 and 2016 seasons. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fever's Stephanie White to miss Thursday's game, Austin Kelly steps in
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Prayers Pouring In For Fever Coach Stephanie White Thursday
Prayers Pouring In For Fever Coach Stephanie White Thursday originally appeared on The Spun. Prayers are pouring in for Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White on Thursday. White, who is in her first year leading the Indiana Fever team, is set to miss Thursday night's game due to personal reasons. The Fever are scheduled to take on the Golden State Valkyries in an Amazon Prime game. Advertisement ESPN NBA insider Kendra Andrews shared the news. "Indiana Fever Head Coach Stephanie White will miss Thursday's game at the Golden State Valkyries for personal reasons, the team just announced. Austin Kelly will serve as acting head coach," she announced. Prayers are pouring in for White on Thursday. ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MAY 22: Head coach Stephanie White of the Indiana Fever looks on against the Atlanta Dream during the first quarter at State Farm Arena on May 22, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images White has missed time for personal reasons earlier in the season. Her longtime partner, ESPN reporter Lisa Salters, has missed multiple games during the 2025 NBA Finals. ESPN NBA announcer Mike Breen had announced that Salters' mom was missing time due to a family health situation. Salters was replaced by Jorge Sedano during the NBA Finals amid her absence. Advertisement 'Jorge is with us today, but we're thinking of our dear friend and colleague, Lisa Salters,' Breen said. 'Lisa's mom has been dealing with some serious health issues for a while now, so we want to send our love to Lisa and her mom. Although we've never met her mom, we owe her a debt of gratitude for giving us the gift of Lisa Salters, who is the teammate everyone in our business should strive to have.' LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 17: ESPN reporter Lisa Salters broadcasts before the championship game of the Emirates NBA Cup between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Oklahoma City Thunder at T-Mobile Arena on December 17, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bucks defeated the Thunder 97-81. (Photo by)Fans are praying for her. "It's sad that both Coach White and Dewanna Bonner have to be dealing with serious personal issues at the same time but at least we know we'll be in good hands with Coach Kelly for tonight. Hoping the best for Stephanie and Dewanna!" one fan wrote. Advertisement "Our thoughts are with her friends and family members," one fan added. "Hopefully everything's okay. That's the second time she has missed a game," one fan added. Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White looks up Tuesday, May 20, 2025, during a game between the Indiana Fever and the Atlanta Dream at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Smith/IndyStar. The Fever and the Valkyries are scheduled to tip off at 10 p.m. E.T. Prayers Pouring In For Fever Coach Stephanie White Thursday first appeared on The Spun on Jun 19, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White sparks fears with absence... days after Caitlin Clark bust-ups
Indiana Fever's head coach Stephanie White is set to miss yet another game due to personal reasons, according to a report. White, who was absent from the team's showdown against the Chicago Sky on June 7, is also set to be away from the sidelines for Thursday night's clash against the Golden State Valkyries. The 47-year-old, who is in her first season coaching the Fever, has been forced to miss the clash on the West Coast once again due to personal matters, according to ESPN's Kendra Andrews. Assistant coach Austin Kelly will serve as head coach, with assistants Karima Christmas-Kelly and Briann January set to step into bigger roles. No timeline was given for White's return. White's absence from her team earlier this month coincided with her partner and ABC/ESPN sideline reporter Lisa Salters' notable omission from the network's coverage of the NBA Finals. During Game 2 in Oklahoma City, veteran broadcaster Mike Breen revealed that Salters missed the matchup due to her mother's health. 'We are thinking of our dear friend and colleague, Lisa Salters,' the Hall-of-Fame announcer said during the Thunder's Game 2 win over the visiting Pacers on June 8 in Oklahoma City. 'Lisa's mom has been dealing with some serious health issues for a while now, so we want to send our love to Lisa and her mom. 'Although we've never met her mom, we owe her a debt of gratitude for giving us the gift of Lisa Salters, who is the teammate everyone in our business should strive to have.' Jorge Sedano, who typically works for ESPN radio, had filled in for Salters before she returned to the airwaves for Game 5 on Monday. However, with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers set to go head-to-head in a potential Game 6 decided Thursday night, it is currently unclear whether Salters, like her partner, will once again be absent from the coverage. It also remains unclear whether White's absence is linked to the ongoing health battles of Salters' mother. However, fearful fans were quick to take to social media to send their well-wishes and prayers following the news of White's withdrawal. Despite their longtime romance, basketball fans had been shocked to learn of Salters and White's relationship when their coinciding absences emerged earlier this month. White and Salters have been romantically involved since at least 2016, according to multiple reports. The longtime partners raise a blended family, sharing four sons - White's three biological children, Landon, 13, and twins Aiden and Avery, 11, from a previous marriage, and Salters' adopted son, Samuel, 11. White's absence will come as a big loss for the Fever during a turbulent time for the team after superstar Caitlin Clark found herself at the center of multiple skirmishes during Tuesday's clash against the Connecticut Sun. Clark was prodded in the eye was jabbed in the eye by Connecticut 's Jacy Sheldon, who had previously been caught in a heated exchange with the Fever guard, before being slammed to the floor by Marina Mabrey in a violent moment which sparked outrage online. Mabrey was shockingly not ejected from the game and was instead assessed just a technical - which has since been upgraded to a flagrant 2. Meanwhile, Clark's teammate and friend Sophie Cunningham was assessed with a flagrant foul and immediately ejected from the heated contest late in the game. With 46.1 seconds remaining in the game, Cunningham wrapped her arms around the Sun guard's head and pulling her to the ground in an act of revenge after her foul on Clark. Following the bust-ups, White claimed that 'everybody [in the league] is getting better, except the officials.' 'I started talking to the officials in the first quarter, and we knew this was going to happen,' White said. 'You could tell it was going to happen. So, they've got to get control of it. They've got to be better.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Stephanie White's Partner Lisa Salters Gets Status Update After Absence
Stephanie White's Partner Lisa Salters Gets Status Update After Absence originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White missed the team's June 7 win over the Chicago Sky due to personal reasons. Assistant coach Austin Kelly stepped in her place and led the team to a 79-52 victory without Caitlin Clark in the lineup. Advertisement While White was only out for one game, her partner, Lisa Salters, has been absent for several of her own. Salters, who works for ESPN, had the honor of serving as a sideline reporter for the 2025 NBA Finals. She was present in Oklahoma City for Game 1 between the Thunder and the Indiana Pacers but was unable to work Games 2, 3, and 4 due to what ESPN described as a "personal matter." Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White and ESPN's sideline reporter Lisa Salters have been out from their duties.© Grace Smith-INDIANAPOLIS STAR-Imagn Images | © Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images With Game 5 on Monday back in Oklahoma City, Salters is ready to rejoin ESPN's broadcasting crew consisting of Mike Breen (play-by-play), Doris Burke and Richard Jefferson (analysts). According to Jon Lewis of Sports Media Watch, "Lisa Salters is back tonight for Game 5." Advertisement This is great news for both Salters and White, as they've been able to return to the sport they love after some tough times. Meanwhile, ABC/ESPN play-by-play announcer Mike Breen revealed that Salters' absence was due to a serious health issue with her mother. "We are thinking of our dear friend and colleague, Lisa Salters. Lisa's mom has been dealing with some serious health issues for a while now, so we want to send our love to Lisa and her mom," Breen said during the Thunder's Game 2 win over the visiting Pacers in Oklahoma City. It's unclear if White and Salters were each out for the same reason, but considering they've been in a romantic relationship since at least 2016, it's highly likely they were. While White now lives in Indiana during the WNBA season, she and Salters share a home in Nashville during the offseason. White has three children from a previous marriage, and she and Salters raise them together, along with Salters' adopted son. Advertisement Related: Iowa Hawkeyes Left Speechless by Caitlin Clark's Latest Admission Related: Caitlin Clark's Boyfriend Directs Five-Word Question to Nike This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
