Indiana Fever is riding the victory wave and how! Pulling a 3-0 in the preseason after defeating Atlanta Dream on Saturday, the Fever’s locker room looks celebratory. Securing an overtime 79–74 victory against Washington Mystics in the preseason opener, the W did not look back since. They went on to secure a 108-44 victory against Brazil National team at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena and that’s why the latest win doesn’t come as a surprise. From rookies like Bonner to star player, Caitlin Clark, the Fever entered the Gateway Park Arena with gleaming faces and the victor’s confidence. How could they ever lose with that triumphant on-court demeanour?
To fans, this team feels like a championship contender, with Clark’s highlight-reel plays lighting up social media. ESPN have fueled the hype, ranking Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell among the WNBA’s top 25 players, though debates rage over whether Clark’s No. 4 spot is too low. This spotlight adds pressure to keep the locker room tight, especially with Clark’s past mistakes under scrutiny.
Fever snatched another victory, 81-76 against Atlanta Dream on Saturday as guards Sophie Cunningham and DeWanna Bonner held the fort against the Dream. While Bonner averaged 8 points, 3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in 20 minutes, Clark graced the court with a splendid 13 points. And though Caitlin Clark and company gave a tough call to the opponents, some things were simply inevitable for the Fever’s locker room. Take technical fouls and half turnovers for example.
Addressing the team and the media on the channel, Stephanie said, “We did a better job of taking care of the ball in the second half, you know.” Unabashedly critiquing the first half, she said,”I was disappointed that we had 10 first half turnovers. A lot of them were were trying to force things that just weren’t there.” As someone who cannot let go of even the most minute of errors, these turnouts were a huge upsetting point for White. Not one, not two, but 10. A whopping 10 turnouts is a big number for anyone to be upset about!
White’s not just pointing fingers—she’s got a plan. Known for her no-nonsense style from her days as a WNBA All-Defensive star, she’s running drills to sharpen Clark’s decision-making and pairing her with vets like Sydney Colson in practice to build better communication. It’s paying off: Clark’s reads improved in the second half against Atlanta, with fewer turnovers. White’s approach is about turning a potential weakness into a strength, keeping the locker room focused on growth.
Having said that, aren’t we all aware of Clark’s tryst with turnovers? As a WNBA rookie, Clark shared a rapport with the turnovers. She even surpassed veteran player Nikki McCray to set a new record in that department. Averaging 5.7 turnovers per game in 2024, Clark was leading with 223 turnovers in over 40 games. Besides, Clark’s 10 turnovers in the debut game against the Connecticut Sun became a talking point across the league. No wonder Saturday’s overall turnovers sounded similar and took us all down the not-so-fascinating memory lane.
Though she confessed to working on her “unbreakable habit,” Clark has come a long way since. She has indeed shown a significant improvement in her sophomore year in the WNBA with enhanced communication and a more refined game. With HC White on her side and Fever rooting for her performance, Clark has nothing to worry about. And while three’s the preseason charm, Stephanie expects an even better gameplay ahead of the regular season. As someone who has praised Clark ever since 2024 WNBA draft Lottery, Stephanie expects a flawless performance from the key player.
Stephanie White as Caitlin Clark’s biggest supporter
“To me, I think it’s Caitlin Clark. I think it’s Caitlin Clark not just because she can score the basketball really at all three levels, but she got stronger. She has gotten better every year, she put on six pounds of muscle from a season ago… and she reads the game,” Stephanie White had said on ESPN’s 2024 WNBA Draft lottery.
Jul 17, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts during the first half against the Dallas Wings at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
One of the first head coaches to openly accept Clark into the W, Stephanie has praised Clark on numerous occasions. She has also defended the Fever forward’s rookie games, especially those surrounding the fouls and the turnovers. “When I’m looking at all these things that people are talking about with Caitlin Clark, it’s like, guys, chill out,” White said. “She’s gonna be fine. It’s two games in, are you kidding me?” While Clark was still finding her footing in the pro games, the former Connecticut Sun HC supported her from behind the scenes.
So, when the two came together for the 2025 season, White has provided a more rigorous outlook, coupled with enthusiasm to the team and the standout player. Not to mention, despite her disappointment with the team last Sunday, White was all praise for Caitlin. She was quick to compare the Stephen Curry of Women’s basketball to her NBA counterpart and said, “That’s just who she is. I mean, nobody tells Steph Curry not to take good shots, right?”
While the relationship between the head coach and Clark is unspeakably strong, will it create magic in the upcoming regular season? That remains to be seen. Be it turnovers, fouls, or the referee troubles, Stephanie White is visibly propelling the Fever’s roster towards something greater by pushing them to work on these issues. And as for Clark, it remains to be seen how her performance in the regular season makes the opponents go speechless.
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