After a disappointing first-round exit, the Indiana Fever decided to make some front office changes. President Kelly Krauskopf left the organization, and GM Amber Cox was fired not long after. With new leadership coming in, Stephanie White’s future as head coach is uncertain.
On one hand, the Fever should want some continuity on the sidelines as they try to build a contender around Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston. On the other hand, a new GM might not want to retain a head coach they did not hire.
If White is tired of all that uncertainty and the challenges that come with coaching one of the most popular players to ever step on a WNBA court, the New York Liberty could give her the ultimate opportunity for a fresh start. Chris DeMarco unsurprisingly won’t be back as the Liberty’s head coach. The organization would struggle to find a more proven and experienced head coach than White to replace him. As long as Breanna Stewart is in New York, the franchise faces a lot of pressure to win. They cannot get another coaching hire wrong.
White still has one more year on her contract with the Fever, but there are ways to work around that. Or White and the Liberty could simply wait to see what the new GM’s plans are. If they are ready to move on, White would be an obvious choice to take over in New York.
The Liberty cannot repeat their Chris DeMarco mistake
The Liberty obviously valued NBA experience when they were looking to replace Sandy Brondello last year. However, sole NBA coaching experience has not led to WNBA championship success in recent years. Yes, Becky Hammon and Natalie Nakase were NBA assistant coaches before leading WNBA teams to championships. But Hammon also spent many years playing in the W, and Nakase was an assistant coach on her staff in Las Vegas. That’s the part they missed with DeMarco. He was completely unfamiliar with the league and its players.
If they still want someone with NBA experience, Kristi Toliver or Lindsey Harding would be good options, as they also know and understand the WNBA. However, considering how much pressure employing an all-time great like Stewart puts on a franchise, someone who is already a successful WNBA head coach might be a better choice.
White may not have won a title as a head coach yet, but she has led several deep playoff runs and her Connecticut Sun teams were excellent defensive squads. Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Sabrina Ionescu are familiar with her, and she understands the WNBA, its players, and what it takes to win.
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