Stephanie White makes Fever championship contender for 1 obvious reason

The Indiana Fever want to build a title contender around Caitlin Clark and are not afraid to make moves. They brought back Kelly Krauskopf and completely revamped the front office. The longtime Fever architect’s return came with a clear goal, and the franchise took another step toward it on Nov. 1.

Indiana fired Christie Sides and replaced her with the obvious choice. Stephanie White was hired, and she comes with a strong history in Indiana. The former Fever player and coach brings a ton of experience and is one of the W’s best.

White helped the Fever win a championship as an assistant coach and led them to the WNBA Finals in 2015. She brought the Connecticut Sun to the WNBA semifinals in back-to-back years. There is zero questioning of her coaching ability, but her emphasis on this will help Indiana vault into contention.

Stephanie White will prioritize defense to make Fever a championship contender

During White’s first stint as Fever head coach, she wanted the team to play fast and get stops. The 47-year-old carried over the defense to the Sun. They were focused on muddying the game and making things difficult for the opposition. Fever fans know all too well after Connecticut knocked them out in the opening round.

White will play to Clark’s strengths on offense. Indiana will play fast and shoot plenty of threes. They will be one of the top offenses in the WNBA, but there will be an emphasis on defense. The Fever ranked 11th of 12 in defensive rating last season, and it kept them from being a serious contender. Their lack of defense was evident in their first-round playoff exit.

White will bring in a new scheme and emphasize getting stops. Expect the Indiana Fever to target some strong veteran defenders to put around their stars. White will challenge Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell to improve their defense. It will take a total team effort and it starts with the best players buying into the philosophy.

Caitlin Clark wants to win and should be ecstatic about the Fever’s new coach. Christie Sides did a fantastic job helping the franchise navigate their increased popularity but did not offer enough in the Xs and Os. The Fever no longer have that issue. White will freshen things up and give Indiana a shot to compete for a championship in 2025 and beyond.

This is a fantastic hire. Fans should be excited. The Indiana Fever are committed to improving and winning. They are making all the right moves and roster upgrades are coming. Stay tuned to see what they can accomplish and get ready for what will be a fun season in 2025.