Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever have significantly boosted WNBA attendance and viewership in the 2024 season, despite criticism from opposing players who’ve labeled their fan base as one of the league’s worst. Terrika Foster-Brasby, however, anticipates a shift with the arrival of Stephanie White as the Fever’s new head coach.

White, appointed last week, brings a strong connection to her home state as a West Lebanon, Indiana native and Purdue alumna who both played for and previously coached the Fever.

On NBC Sports’ “On Her Turf,” Foster-Brasby expressed confidence that White will foster a new team culture, including improvements in how fans support the Fever.

“She’s also most certainly not going to stand for any of the negativity that had been associated with Fever fans. And we know it’s not all the fans, but there were certain ones who use the Fever name to kind of spew things that just do not stand for what the WNBA stands for,” she said (11:36 mark).

White previously served as head coach for the Connecticut Sun, whose guard Dijonai Carrington had remarked that the Fever had the “nastiest fans” in the league.

“Stephanie White is very outspoken on those kinds of things, and that is not something she’s ever going to put up with something she’s never going to tolerate,” Foster-Brasby said.

“So I think when I say a culture shift, that is what I mean, that she just will be the kind of leader that really exemplifies the standard that she expects to seize from her players. And you will see that as the season continues with her at the helm.”

Stephanie White’s two-year tenure with the Sun was highly successful, as she led them to back-to-back WNBA Semifinals and achieved a 55-25 record. In 2023, she earned both the WNBA and Associated Press Coach of the Year awards and served as head coach in the WNBA All-Star Game.

Stephanie White thrilled for her Indiana return

With rookie sensation Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever ended an eight-year playoff drought in 2024 but were eliminated in the first round by Stephanie White’s former team, the Connecticut Sun.

On Friday, while serving as an analyst for the Orlando Magic vs. Cleveland Cavaliers game, White shared her excitement about returning to her hometown team.

“I think there’s so many things,” she said. “First and foremost, it is home, right? This is a franchise that’s a part of my DNA player there, coach there, was a part of the championship there, certainly working with Kelly Krauskopf, working with Linda and again, and then this exciting young roster.

“It’s such a pivotal moment in women’s basketball and the WNBA history. It’s 25 years ago when I initially joined the WNBA. It’s what I what I have always envisioned this league being and to be able to do it at home. It’s just really special.”

Stephanie White joined the Fever in 1999 after her rookie season with the Charlotte Sting and played five seasons with the team. She later served on the Fever’s coaching staff from 2011 to 2016, moving from assistant (2011-2014) to head coach (2015-2016), where she helped the team win the 2012 WNBA championship and reach the Finals in 2015.