“One of the great things about Indiana is they love to play fast… I want to play with great pace.” Those were the words of Stephanie White when she made her much-anticipated return to where it all began. A former player and coach for the Fever, the 2023 WNBA Coach of the Year seemed poised to lead the franchise back to glory. And early signs were encouraging, the front office brought in veterans like DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard, Sophie Cunningham, and Sydney Colson to support Caitlin Clark. But now, that early promise feels like it’s slipping away.
It all started when news broke that Caitlin Clark would miss two weeks due to a left quad injury. Things only got worse from there. In the Fever’s matchup against the Connecticut Sun, backup guard Sydney Colson went down with a leg injury, and Sophie Cunningham re-aggravated the ankle injury she’s been nursing since the preseason.
It’s quite clear that the Fever now have a point guard crisis. Coach Stephanie White now has a major headache on her hands, as the Fever sit at 2–4 after dropping their third straight game. Such performances have only built on more frustrations among the fans and analysts.
Rachel DeMita, for one, didn’t hold back her thoughts on how the Fever have looked without Caitlin Clark. Speaking candidly on her YouTube channel, she said, “I don’t know if it’s coaching, I don’t know if it’s style, I don’t know if it’s the pressure — somehow every single player on this Indiana Fever team has been taken out of rhythm.”
She continued, “Yes, I get upset when it seems like Coach Stephanie White isn’t coaching the way that she said she was going to coach. She’s not motivating her team in the way that she said she was going to. I get frustrated when I see players on the Indiana Fever playing hero ball, playing isolation ball, not passing the ball around.”
May 4, 2025; Iowa City, IA, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) looks on with head coach Stephanie White during the third quarter against the Brazil National Team at Carver-Haweye Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
There’s no denying that watching your team fall short, especially in nail-biters, can be brutal. And if you’re a Fever fan, the frustration is real. Aside from the Mystics game, every one of Indiana’s losses has come down to the final possession. And starting the season 2–4 isn’t exactly what fans hoped for a team with championship hopes, but the silver lining? They’re right there in the fight. These close losses sting now, but they also show that a turnaround might be just around the corner.
But one thing is becoming increasingly clear! Coach Stephanie White hasn’t quite lived up to her promise of bringing a fast-paced style of play to Indiana. The numbers speak for themselves. The Fever recorded zero fast-break points against the Mystics and managed just four against the Sun. For comparison, Connecticut got 12. Sure, losing Caitlin Clark is a huge blow to their tempo and transition game, but even that doesn’t fully explain such a steep drop-off.
The Fever’s struggles without their star guard aren’t just limited to what’s happening on the court, the effects are being felt off it too. With Caitlin Clark sidelined, ticket prices have seen a noticeable dip. Let’s take a look.
Caitlin Clark’s absence causes more misery for the Indiana Fever
Before Caitlin Clark’s left quadriceps injury, Fever games were easily the hottest tickets in town. According to TickPick data via USA TODAY Sports, the average ticket price dropped from $137 to $80 for the games the star guard would be missing, a staggering 71% dip. In fact, TickPick reports that the current average ticket now sits at $95, down sharply from $210. The cheapest seats? Well, those have now gone from $86 to $25.
For context, the Fever’s matchup in Chicago had a “get-in” price of $86. For their game in Washington, fans had to shell out at least $41. But once Clark’s absence was confirmed, those prices fell to $25 and $14, respectively. The priciest ticket in Section 120 for Friday’s matchup against the Sun was $86.25. Fast forward to June 17, when the Fever host the Sun again that same seat will set fans back $140.30. A 62.7% rise in price. Why? Because Clark is expected to play in that game.
Coach Stephanie White hasn’t had it easy, and with games coming in quick succession, the pressure is only mounting. She’ll be hoping for some quick recoveries in her squad because if Indiana wants to stay in the championship conversation come October, they’ll need everyone fit!
The post Indiana Fever HC’s Misery Sees No End After National Analyst’s Distressing Update Around Caitlin Clark Teammates appeared first on EssentiallySports.
