After spending the last two seasons coaching the Connecticut Sun, Stephanie White was fired, but it didn’t take long for her to find a new opportunity in the WNBA. The Indiana Fever announced her as their new head coach on Friday, weeks after several people linked her with a move to the franchise.
Speaking with Malika Andrews of ESPN, White explained how she prepares to coach a player like Caitlin Clark. She didn’t have a clear answer to that, but she made it clear that she wasn’t afraid of the challenge.
“I think the greatest thing is, for me, having been a part of the WNBA for 25 years, having worked on both sides of it, in the media and in the coaching room and being a player in this league, as well this is the moment we’ve been waiting for, so I don’t know if you’re prepared as much as you just embrace it, embrace where we are,” White said.
“Back-to-back Rookie of the Years with Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston … what an outstanding moment we have in women’s basketball.” 🙌
Stephanie White joins @malika_andrews after being named head coach of the Indiana Fever. pic.twitter.com/zb12jjugq1— espnW (@espnW) November 1, 2024
Clark reacted to the hiring of White on Instagram, sharing the original post from the Fever.
White made it to the playoffs each season she spent in Connecticut, boasting a 55-25 record. The challenge could be bigger now, as she will have the opportunity to coach one of the most exciting players this league has ever seen.
Stephanie White explained why she took the Fever job
When talking about why she decided to become the Fever’s head coach, Stephanie White credited her history with the team and her success as an assistant.
Then, she turned her attention to the players she’ll coach, praising Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston, her best assets on the current roster.
“And secondly, this young, exciting roster,” White said. “You think about a generational player in Caitlin Clark. Back-to-back Rookie of the Years with Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston. Kelsey Mitchell, I think had the best year of her career.
“It’s just an exciting roster with a outstanding moment we’re having in women’s basketball right now, so to come back to be a part of it in my own state, with my own franchise, it’s just a unique opportunity and I’m so thankful, I’m grateful for it.”
Stephanie White is a former WNBA Coach of the Year award winner who has a connection with the Fever. This appears to be a match made in heaven, but we need to sit and wait for how this relationship unfolds.
