Over the weekend, Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark was caught on camera in a heated exchange with her head coach, Stephanie White. The incident sparked widespread discourse around the sports world, prompting both Clark and White to address it.
But this is actually not the first time this season that Clark has faced criticism for arguing with a coach on the sideline.
While the latest incident garnered a lot of social media attention considering Clark’s struggles in the game and the fact that it came amidst a blowout Fever loss, Clark was seen having a similarly animated and heated exchange with a Fever assistant on the bench earlier this year.
Clark Had ‘Heated Exchange’ With Coach
During a game between the Fever and the Washington Mystics earlier this season, cameras caught Clark in what appeared to be a “heated exchange” with an Indiana Fever assistant coach while she was seated on the bench.
In the video, Clark can be seen apparently raising her voice at Briann January, a Fever assistant coach who focuses on the defensive side of the ball, as the two appeared to argue on the bench. After the heated interaction, Clark could be seen wiping her face with a towel before walking away and sitting somewhere else on the bench.
Caitlin Clark with heated exchange with defensive coach and then gets up and goes to sit somewhere else. Mind you, defense has been putrid. pic.twitter.com/e0rMQXTyjy
— CCFC-New season (@sohali2012) May 18, 2026
“Caitlin Clark with a heated exchange with a defensive coach and then gets up and goes to sit somewhere else. Mind you, defense has been putrid,” a Caitlin Clark fan account wrote while sharing the video on social media.
It’s worth noting that January is certainly not a no-name assistant coach. In fact, she is an Indiana Fever legend, helping lead the Fever to their only WNBA Championship back in 2012 during her time as a player.
As for her credentials as a defensive coach, January was consistently one of the best perimeter defenders in the league during her playing days, as she was named to the WNBA All-Defensive First Team five times in her career.
Clark Faced Heavy Criticism
While this incident flew largely under the radar compared to the latest incident with White, it did spark some heavy criticism at the time as fans blasted Clark for the way she behaved toward her coach.
“I’m 100% sure the coach is right and the spoiled child was absolutely wrong! All the coach said was move your feet on defense and put up a hand every now & then!” one fan wrote in a post on X.
“Idk maybe she should listen to her defensive coach because she’s a cone on the court playing defense,” another fan wrote.
“Dang I didn’t know about this,” a fan commented.
“She is such a clown. ….. mentality on full display,” someone else added.
“Mind you she’s taking to a championship PG in Briann January,” another fan pointed out.
“Yo Angel Reese wouldve been suspended on the spot for these out of control enraged outburst Caitlin Clark does publicly with her coaching circle. & its ridiculous of how the media wont point this out. Imagined the reaction Aja Wilson would get from the media for this behavior?” someone else wrote.
Clark did not specifically address the incident between her and January, but she did make it clear that there is no bad blood between her and her head coach. Clark’s Fever teammate, Lexie Hull, also downplayed the on-court incidents and dismissed any concerns that there are lingering issues in the locker room.
Still, Clark continues to face criticism from fans for the way that she behaves on the sideline.
About Dave Kelsey
Contributing author to The Comeback.