Nothing about Stephanie White's first season as head coach of the Indiana Fever has gone as planned. One could argue that no other team has faced as many obstacles as the Fever have this season. From multiple injuries, to Coach White having to miss time due to family matters and drama surrounding an off-season signing, the Fever has seen it all.
Despite all of this, no one could have predicted the Fever would still be very much in the playoff conversation entering the final week of the regular season. If the WNBA's Coach of the Year award wasn't based solely on wins and losses, Stephanie White would be at the top of the list.
White is no stranger to recognition: she was the league's 2023 recipient of the award. This season, she should absolutely be applauded for her efforts in what has been a roller coaster the last several months — a season that has come with so much negativity and doubt from the outside.
One trait the Fever's season has lacked is consistency. The Fever hoped to have had a better overall record (21-20), but performing well while having to bring in a brand-new rotation of hardship players with each injury has been a tall task, and has put immense pressure on White and her staff practically all season.
While currently holding down the 8th and final spot, the Fever's most recent negative news came Thursday after it was announced that Caitlin Clark would not be returning this season. The Fever held onto any little bit of hope for some good news after already facing four other season ending injuries, three of which happened in a 12-day span.
(And yet another unfortunate event transpired Tuesday when Player Development coach Keith Porter suffered a torn Achilles during practice ahead of the team's game in Phoenix.)
Another obstacle came when DeWanna Bonner, one of the Fever's biggest off season acquisitions, virtually disappeared on the team before ultimately being released after expressing unhappiness in Indiana. Shelater go on to sign with the Phoenix Mercury.)
Many were concerned that this would create a major distraction for the team while her nearly two week absence was transpiring. If the Fever had a consistently healthy roster for most, if not all of the 2025 season, they win over 30 games and finish in top 5 of the standings — which was the expectation entering the season. It's hard to argue that any other coach in the league would be able to keep her players together and motivated after all they have faced this season, and what White has accomplished is truly remarkable.
Stephanie White hopes to close the gap on a playoff spot as the Fever are back at home Friday against the Chicago Sky.