Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White appeared on the Sports Media with Richard Deitsh podcast Tuesday and discussed her coaching and broadcasting career. She was also, of course, asked about Fever star Caitlin Clark and about the opportunity to coach the young phenom.
Coach Stephanie White talks about area of improvement they are focusing on with Caitlin Clark. Strength, efficiency, and defense. pic.twitter.com/irBKyaKbnU
— Ken Swift (@kenswift) February 18, 2025
"I think the next step [for Clark] is efficiency," said White. "Not so many turnovers, higher field goal percentages... Getting more efficient in everything that we do. For us, moving [Clark] off the ball a little bit more so she's not getting worn out in game just handling the ball 94 feet."
In November, IFR discussed the idea of Caitlin Clark moving to the wing. This article received mixed reviews, and rightfully so. Clark, after all, led the WNBA in assists and has proven herself as a distributor. Being as though she was very ball-dominant during her rookie season, and prior during her time at Iowa, many fans do not feel as though she should change-- they want Caitlin Clark to be herself.
But this idea did not mean Clark could not have the ball in her hands. It refers to the way in which she gets it.
In the November article, IFR made the comparison between Clark and Golden State Warriors point guard Steph Curry-- a comparison made by many based on the similarities between the two players' quick releases and deep shots.
Let's revisit that analogy, now that the Indiana Fever look a lot different from last season.
The Fever return a great core, including Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston, and Lexie Hull. Indiana added free agents DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard, and Sydney Colson, as well as trading for Phoenix's Sophie Cunningham.
The beautiful thing about this new roster is that a vast majority of the players on it are efficient ball handlers. Bonner is a stretch small forward, and Clark, Mitchell, Cunningham, Colson, and Hull are all guards. This allows for others to bring the ball up the court, allowing Clark to get a head start to the other end.
Steph Curry has revolutionized the NBA by his shooting ability, which allows Warriors head coach Steve Kerr to use him as a decoy. What made Golden State dangerous in the 2010s was the fact that Curry was a decoy for Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant, among others. When those two got hot, Curry usually ended up with an open shot.
The Fever can do the same exact thing with Clark
The difference between Iowa Caitlin Clark and Fever Caitlin Clark is the fact that Iowa needed Clark to take over games. Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall are talented, but Clark was a generational college talent. She had the ability to score in isolation situations, and that was Iowa's main gameplan.
The WNBA is a more physical brand of basketball.
Opponents would send out defenders to meet Clark the second she touched the ball off the inbound. They played tight to her off-ball. They kept fresh legs on her at all times, and sent double teams when needed. This is what Clark attracts-- and Stephanie White wants to take advantage of that.
Mitchell, Bonner, Howard, and Boston are all proven, elite scorers in the WNBA. Using Clark to free them up is Basketball 101.
Clark will get her touches, and she will get her opportunities to run the offense. But she, just like any other ball dominant star in professional basketball, will tire out over the course of a season. Unloading some of that burden to other players-- players who can help tremendously-- will be the key to success on Indiana's title run in 2025.
Why lean on one star when you have five?