Earlier this month, Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White returned to her Alma mater, Purdue University, where she was the guest speaker for their Presidential Lecture Series. She was very excited when talking about the newly added pieces to the team and expressed the importance of building around players such as Caitlin Clark.
"When you have players, a player like Caitlin Clark, you've got to find the right fit for the team," White said.
Finding the right fit for a generational talent doesn't always mean adding a whole new team. Clark quickly built a strong chemistry with players like Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell and Lexie Hull, all of whom are returning for the 2025 season.
White sets the expectation of work ethic to the highest possible standard for her players. She was seen working out with players such as Clark shortly after being hired by the team back in November. It's not just about wins and losses to her, it's about player effort and treatment of one another. Her competitive spirit, ability to adjust to criticism, discipline and willingness to be challenged are all traits she wants instilled in anyone that plays for her.
Work ethic and chemistry will be key to succeeding under Coach White
"If I'm watching you, and you're at the end of the bench with bad body language, and not being a good teammate, I don't want you on my team," White added.
She honed in on this work ethic during her tenure at Purdue in both academics and athletics and acknowledged that being an athlete in today's world is a lot more difficult. There's so much more that is required of these athletes in terms of off court distractions. But with all of these distractions comes responsibility and how people carry themselves in light of this is even more important.
There was an obvious missing piece for the Fever last year. The chemistry between coach and players didn't always appear to be strong or on the same page at all times. Stephanie White fills this void. She brings strong intensity, a winning culture and high expectations for each individual player on her team. It's this very same persona of White that led her to a 2023 Coach of the Year honor, an overall 55-25 record and two semifinal appearances as head coach for the Connecticut Sun.
It is a very sure thing that any player that lacks full effort, an ability to fail and learn from it, and strong support of their teammates won't find themselves to be a good fit for head coach Stephanie White's squad.