There has been speculation for weeks, if not months, about the mutual interest between the Indiana Fever and then-Connecticut Sun head coach Stephanie White. It didn’t take long for the dominoes to fall as the offseason began: The Fever quickly fired former coach Christie Sides, and when the Sun and White decided to part ways a few days ago, it felt like just a matter of time. .
Sure enough, on Friday the Fever announced White as the team’s new head coach. White has coached the Sun for the past two seasons and will take it home in 2023 W.N.B.A Coach of the Year Award during her tenure. She leaves the team after back-to-back semi-final appearances to take over a Fever team that is on the rise and has big hopes for the future with Caitlin Clark at the helm.
“I am incredibly proud and honored to return home to Indiana and lead the Fever during such a pivotal time in the history of this franchise, but also during such an important time in women’s athletics. This franchise has always committed to winning and always will. I look forward to working every day to deliver another WNBA title to the greatest basketball fans in the world.”
– White on the Fever takeover
Indiana is a place that loves its roots. Indiana residents love where they come from and are proud of it, especially when it comes to basketball. White is a native of West Lebanon, India and also a Purdue alumna. She has also spent six seasons as an assistant and head coach with the Fever.
Fever President of Basketball Operations Kelly Krauskopf is confident that the The future of this franchise looks bright and her intention was to get a head coach who aligned with their expectations for the future as an organization.
“As we enter this new era of Fever basketball, I am thrilled to welcome Stephanie back to the franchise. Stephanie is part of the fabric of this franchise, both as a former player and as a member of our championship coaching staff, so I am quite familiar with her elite basketball IQ and leadership style. I am confident there is no one who better understands our culture or is better equipped to lead our group of players to the next level.”
– Fever President Kelly Krauskopf
It was important that the head coach would be someone who would help bring the best from their star player, Caitlin Clark. She is the cornerstone of the franchise and the league’s progress, so finding a coach who is aware of the franchise’s goals was critical. Who better than someone who has lived in Indiana, played in Indiana and coached in Indiana? White helped the franchise to its first-ever WNBA title as a player in 2012, and now the journey begins as a coach as well.
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