Indiana Fever’s head coach, Stephanie White, has struggled during the WNBA regular season. Her team has faced setbacks and now risks missing the playoffs. She recently spoke about her approach as the leader of a franchise that already lost four key players to injuries.
Contrary to expectations, the Fever currently sit in eighth place in the professional women’s basketball league. This disappointing performance could cast doubt on White’s future with the team next season.
One step at a time won’t be enough for the Fever
According to Essentiallysports, White began coaching the Fever with a clear vision: “Well, I think for us, we have to focus on one day at a time. You know, we can’t—we have to control what we can control… We have to stay focused on what we need to do, stay grounded, and handle what’s in front of us.”
However, the outlook for the franchise that signed Caitlin Clark has not been favorable. The team is losing the playoff race against Seattle, Golden State, and the Sparks.
ESPBEN:
Stephanie White on Caitlin’s Return#CC22 #CaitlinClark #NowYouKnow #FeverRising #IndianaFever #WNBA pic.twitter.com/NLNIRhoRKn
— Caitlin Clark News (@22CCnews) August 25, 2025
Time keeps running, and that puts direct pressure on White. At the start of the season, she lost her best players to injuries. On top of that, fans and WNBA experts have heavily criticized her decisions regarding team management.
Jason Whitlock’s harsh criticism
Sports commentator Jason Whitlock stated on his show Fearless that White is under immense pressure: “If Caitlin Clark finishes this season and wants a new coach, they better give her one.” If that happens, it would mark the second coaching dismissal since Clark’s arrival.
Some argue this makes Clark a so-called “coach killer.” But Whitlock disagreed, saying: “I remember a coach killer, his name was Michael Jordan, and he got rid of a lot of coaches before Phil Jackson came along. We’ve seen this before.” This means he supports the idea of a coaching change for the Fever.
For Whitlock, White’s biggest problem is that she failed to maximize the duo of Clark and veteran Kelsey Mitchell. Both are outstanding players, but “Stephanie White doesn’t see it as a blessing. She wants Odyssey Sims and Aari McDonald running the game—players she can influence and control.”
Whitlock added: “If it doesn’t work when she comes back, that’s when we should really blame Stephanie White.” For now, the Fever continue to fight for a playoff spot, and White’s future with the team depends heavily on that outcome.
