The Indiana Fever recently parted ways with head coach Christie Sides. Indiana has roster questions to address, but hiring their next head coach is also a priority without question. Many potential candidates have already been mentioned, but one possible Sides replacement is being linked to the Fever, per Annie Costabile of chicago.suntimes.com.
Stephanie White is the head coach for the Connecticut Sun. Yet, rumors have swirled about White potentially joining either the Fever or Chicago Sky, with both franchises currently without a head coach. In fact, six total WNBA teams do not have a head coach at the moment.
White still has another year on her current contract with the Sun. With that being said, there is a belief that White will be able to have the option to leave if she wants. Of course, White is from Indiana and spent most of her WNBA playing career with the Fever. She also coached the Fever in 2015 and 2016.
The decision to move on from Sides was fairly surprising. She led Indiana to the postseason in her second season with the team. Still, Sides dealt with criticism as all eyes were on the team amid Caitlin Clark's popularity.
Why is Stephanie White seemingly the Fever's top head coach candidate?
Expectations are going to be high for the Fever with Caitlin Clark leading the way. Are the expectations fair? Maybe, but many teams would need a few years to build around their star before immediately emerging as WNBA Finals contenders. Yet, the Fever may have championship aspirations in 2025, so hiring an established head coach will be pivotal.
As aforementioned, White previously coached in Indiana. She is currently with the Sun, where she has found success. White is arguably the best candidate for the Fever. Her understanding of what it takes to win in Indiana will only help matters.
The Sky remain a potential landing destination for White, though. Angel Reese is already a star and Chicago's future is bright. Additionally, White could end up remaining in Connecticut. The Sun enjoyed a strong 2024 season and they hope to compete for years to come.
The Fever will have plenty of qualified candidates to consider before making their final decision. With so many coaching vacancies around the league, though, there will be no shortage of competition. The Fever head coaching job may be attractive given the potential, but it will also come with plenty of pressure.