Every so often, basketball has a means of reminding us that it’s actually not that necessary. Connecticut Solar coach Stephanie White’s end-of-season press convention was one such occasion. White, who been the topic of rumors that she could possibly be leaving the group after two years on the helm, fought again tears as she addressed the media on Thursday morning.
The press convention got here every week after the remainder of the Solar’s end-of-season interviews, and after days of hypothesis relating to whether or not the delay was associated to White probably leaving Connecticut. That wasn’t the case; as an alternative, she revealed she was coping with a “powerful” household matter, and whereas she didn’t specify what it was, her tone and demeanor indicated it was very critical.
“At the start, I simply wish to thanks,” White mentioned to a cohort of reporters on Zoom. “I’ve had a household emergency. That’s why I needed to postpone and [I’m] nonetheless coping with it now. So, it’s been a it’s been a troublesome time, however I knew that I wanted to get in entrance of you guys and wrap up, definitely, our season. I respect the persistence as I proceed to navigate this case.”
In a flash, the slew of basketball-related questions journalists had queued up for the veteran head coach appeared unimportant.
White fought again tears the complete press convention, her feelings visibly intensifying every time she referenced the household state of affairs she was within the midst of. The Chicago Sky, Los Angeles Sparks, and Atlanta Dream all just lately dismissed their head coaches, and when requested about whether or not she was in dialog with any of these franchises, she didn’t get into any element.
“My precedence is my household proper now, actually — simply being right here for my household, getting by way of this,” White mentioned. “That’s my precedence.”
It was Stephanie White’s first time addressing reporters because the night time the Solar fell to the Minnesota Lynx in Sport 5 of the WNBA semifinals. And, her issue getting by way of the media questions within the digital end-of-season interview stood in sharp distinction with that Sport 5 postgame press convention, during which the understandably disillusioned head coach had on a regular basis and persistence to reply tough questions. After Sport 5, she mirrored in-depth about what went fallacious tactically, heaped reward on her gamers — and even admitted she was trying ahead to watching the Lynx-Liberty Finals match-up.
White doubles as an ESPN broadcaster protecting professional and school basketball through the WNBA offseason, and her unwavering professionalism on the podium — even after losses and adversity — stood out all season. Holding the end-of-season presser regardless of what she was going by way of in her private life was the skilled resolution made by a consummate skilled, nevertheless it additionally served as a heartbreaking reminder that on the finish of the day, basketball is only a recreation. And no matter Stephanie White was coping with behind the scenes is much extra important.
Although it was clearly a problem, White did handle quite a lot of extra substantive questions associated to the way forward for the group. Of observe, this offseason, All-Stars DeWanna Bonner, Brionna Jones, and Alyssa Thomas are all unrestricted free brokers, whereas DiJonai Carrington is restricted. Requested how a lot of a precedence it’s to maintain that veteran core collectively, she was candid about the opportunity of the crew splitting up.
“I definitely suppose it’s one thing that that you really want, however we additionally perceive the realities of of this enterprise,” White mentioned. “This can be a core group that’s been collectively for a very long time… yearly a crew goes to be completely different.”
“We’re grateful for the time that we’ve had, and we’ll take the following steps every time they current themselves.”
She additionally praised the play of backup level guard Veronica Burton. “I like her IQ, I like how onerous she works. I like how coachable she is,” she mentioned. “We knew that she was going to present us what we wanted on the defensive finish of the ground, and he or she did that.”
White mirrored on her crew’s resilience all through the season, mentioning Tiffany Mitchell’s sepsis episode — one other tough reminder for the Solar this 12 months that life was much more necessary than basketball. Mitchell, one of many extra veteran gamers on the roster, missed the second half of the season recovering from sepsis with six belly abscesses, a situation that threatened her life.
“Watching Tiff wrestle and undergo her well being scare and state of affairs, there have been numerous ups and downs,” White mentioned. “However the resilience of our group to place ourselves to be proper there on the finish of the 12 months, to be in competition for what our final aim was, to get to the Finals.”
It’s nonetheless not sure whether or not Stephanie White might be again in Connecticut subsequent season, or whether or not the Thomas-Bonner-Jones will re-sign or go elsewhere in free company. It’s usually the case that end-of-season press conferences present some context, whereas leaving the door open for a slew of potentialities, which White’s definitely did.
However, what stood out most was the reminder that on the finish of the day, basketball is only a sport, and no matter White has been coping with since her crew’s elimination is much extra important. Fittingly, almost each reporter started their query by sending Stephanie White and her household ideas and prayers. Right here’s to hoping that the whole lot, and everybody, finally ends up okay.
