A head coach should be their team's first and biggest champion, and Stephanie White has taken that idea and run with it all season long. Despite the fact that the team has experienced unprecedented tumult and unpredictable disasters, and despite the fact that White herself has been the target of fan ire throughout the season, the Fever's coach has never held back when asked how she really feels about the young women she leads day in and day out.
That dedication was on full display when White spoke to reporters following the Fever's 99-93 win over the Connecticut Sun on Sunday, August 17. The Fever is made up of players who are "good human beings" and "selfless," she began.
"They're tough. They don't they don't care who gets the credit. They don't care whose day it is. They just they got something inside of them that you just can't teach," White continued. "And you know, we they bring it out of each other, and it allows us to go through these incredibly tough times that we're going through and always gives us a chance."
The Fever trailed for most of Sunday's match — at times by 20 points or more — but were spurred to the win largely based on the efforts of veteran guard Kelsey Mitchell, who carried the team on her back as she hit bucket after bucket (Mitchell had a 38-point game) and made it clear that losing wasn't on the agenda.
The Indiana Fever's season has been murky at best
The win was a necessary one for players and fans. It's no secret the Fever are struggling right now with multiple players out due to injuries (Caitlin Clark has been plagued by quad and groin injuries all season and missed a total of 21 games to date; Syd Colson suffered a torn ACL and Aari McDonald has a broken foot, and both players will miss the rest of the season). It's entirely possible Caitlin Clark won't even return to the court this season, especially if her health status is remotely questionable.
But the team has demonstrated a resiliency that is remarkable. "And I'm just so incredibly proud of them for continuing to believe, for continuing to pull together," White also said. "For continuing to step up. I mean, every single person on this roster impacts winning for us. And every single person on this roster is valued for how they impact winning, whether they play a second or not. They give and give and give to this team. And I'm thankful for this group."
When it comes to WNBA rosters, White knows what she's talking about. She spent five seasons at Vanderbilt before joining the Sun as head coach in 2022; she departed Connecticut for Indiana at the end of the 2024 season.
In terms of accolades and accomplishments, it's not clear what fans can or should expect from the Fever for the rest of the season. But in terms of heart? The Fever have more than proven that in that area, they're operating out of a place of abundance.