In the social media age, even basketball coaches can’t escape a bit of internet-fueled madness. Stephanie White, who recently exited her role as head coach of the Connecticut Sun, found herself the subject of a viral tweet that sparked a frenzy in the WNBA world. This is all because of one name: Caitlin Clark. Yes, that Caitlin Clark—the baller everyone’s talking about, who could put up points blindfolded while dribbling backward.
It all started when White was relieved of her duties with the Sun on Monday, following a respectable playoff run. By Wednesday, the internet was buzzing, with a certain fan account on X (formerly Twitter) posting a spicy graphic that quoted White as saying, “I would trade my whole team for [Clark].” The tweet exploded faster than a Clark buzzer-beater, and suddenly, people were imagining White walking into the Indiana Fever’s office with a trade request that would put even blockbuster movies to shame.
Before long, eager fans were picturing Clark in a Fever jersey and White on the sidelines, calling shots. But here’s the catch—it was all fake. The quote wasn’t from White. In fact, it originated from an anonymous general manager back in April, who probably said it jokingly but just enough to give the internet a soundbite it would never forget.
Now, we can confirm White never uttered such a phrase, despite the tweet’s rabid popularity. If anything, it was a prank pulled by a Caitlin Clark superfan, one who decided to combine their love for the former Iowa Hawkeye and for harmless internet chaos. Clearly, the post was taken seriously by some, proving once again that if it’s on the internet, people will believe it. And if it’s Caitlin Clark-related, the fans will run with it.
Ironically, White and Clark do have a fair amount of mutual admiration for each other, which only fanned the flames further. Clark, when asked about White earlier this season, called her “a great basketball mind” and “a trailblazer” for her coaching and commentary work. White, who covered several of Clark’s college games, has frequently praised Clark’s electrifying game. But that doesn’t mean she was packing up the entire Connecticut roster for one trade.
Amid all the online excitement, there’s a real, non-hypothetical connection in the works here. The Indiana Fever, fresh off parting ways with head coach Christie Sides, do have a spot open in the coaching department. And White, who has a wealth of coaching experience, just so happens to be a free agent. So, could the Fever hire White? Sure. Will she actually trade the entire Fever team for Clark if she does? Highly unlikely—but don’t expect the internet to stop speculating.
So, next time you see a viral sports quote online, just remember: if it sounds too wild to be true, it probably is. But if Caitlin Clark actually does end up on the Fever, well, we’ll all know who to thank: that one fan with a Photoshop app and a great sense of humor