“Generational Player”: Hailing Caitlin Clark’s Greatness, Stephanie White Embraces the New Role as “Stars Aligned” for the New Fever HC
After firing Christie Sides, Indiana Fever has announced a new head coach in Stephanie White. The former Connecticut Sun coach was a coaching assistant for the franchise when it won its first title in 2012. Maybe this incident makes Kelly Krauskopf feel that White would be handy in bringing Indiana its second title next season. Certainly, White looks ecstatic about taking the role of Caitlin Clark’s coach.
“First and foremost it’s home. This is a franchise- the Indiana Fever, the Indiana Pacers that’s in my DNA. Grew up with Indiana, and played with Indiana, Indiana franchise. Of course, was part of the franchise when we won the WNBA championship and secondly this young exciting roster. Think about a generational player in Caitlin Clark and back-to-back rookie of the year with Aliyah Boston, then Kelsey Mitchell… I think had the best year of her career. It’s just an exciting roster,” White told Malika Andrews of ESPN.
Indeed, the Fever had one of the best comebacks after the Olympics break where the team won 8 of 10 games entering the second half of the 28th WNBA season. In this stretch, they won over the big guns of the league including the Phoenix Mercury, the New York Liberty, the Seattle Storm, and the Connecticut Sun. Moreover, they were the top team to bring in the viewership and sales record for the WNBA. While Caitlin Clark was breaking and making records, her teammates too shone in the glory. The “three-headed snake” of the Fever which includes Mitchell, Boston, and Clark created many nights worth remembering for their franchise while bringing the wins.
“What an outstanding moment we have in women’s basketball right now. Comeback might be a part of it, in my home state, in my franchise. It’s a unique opportunity. I am thankful and grateful for it,” White stated in an interview with ESPN on Friday. Meanwhile, after lauding Clark, she also shed light on her emotions after taking a new role.
“For me, it feels like all the stars have aligned. I think I told you that every time I came back to Indiana, it just always felt like coming home. And now I am coming home, and it’s just such an incredible opportunity, and I couldn’t be more excited,” White enumerated during an interview with Indiana’s beat writer Scott Agnes on Friday.
Notably, White was born in Illinois and played at Seeger Memorial Junior-Senior High School also based in Indiana. Then went to Purdue University, Indiana. She led her program to an NCAA title in 1999, where she was named the National College Player of the Year. She also played as a player for the Fever from 2000 to 2004. Thus, coming to Indiana has a lot of emotions attached to it.
Furthermore, White was an assistant coach with the Fever when they won their first title in 2012. She was promoted to the role of head coach in 2015 after Lin Dunn retired. The 2023 WNBA Coach of the Year led the Fever to the WNBA playoffs in 2016. Therefore, she knows the management very well. And the W this time also promises her great players.
The Indianapolis franchise has two number-one picks from 2023 and 2024 in Aliyah Boston and Clark. To top that, they have found an extremely special player in Kelsey Mitchell, who formed probably the best partnership in the backcourt along with the point guard. Both Boston and Clark were the ROTY in their respective years. Hence, the Fever have a chance at the title and might be favorites going into next season. Meanwhile, White also has a great rapport with the current ROTY.
Stephanie White praises Caitlin Clark
When Clark was drafted in the WNBA, White overtly stated that as per her, Clark was the most W-ready player. Plus, having watched CC in the NCAA, White praised her for getting “better every year,” and putting “on six pounds of muscle from a season ago.” To top that, the former Indiana Fever HC also added that Clark reads the game better than other stars.
Furthermore, White even supported the Iowa-alum when she failed to live up to the expectations. In such circumstances, the new Fever coach demanded that the No. 22 should be given more time before fans judge her. All this showed that she had a brilliant understanding with Clark. Hence, it was natural for her to praise the generational talent when she took over as HC of the Fever.
“I just can’t wait. She’s a student of the game, she loves the game of basketball, she has been so great with how she’s handled all of the attention. She just wants to play, she just wants to win,” White expressed while also revealing that she spoke to Clark last night. Meanwhile, the 47-year-old also revealed that she has been watching Clark since 8th grade and has been following her journey ever since. Well, that forms quite an emotional bond with the single-season assist leader of the W.
And now that White has gotten a chance to coach her, hopefully, Clark will be the legend she was in the NCAA. And perhaps it won’t be long before the Fever clinch their second Championship title.
