May 16, 2025—with the new W regular season just a few weeks away, the buzz is real. One of the biggest talking points? The Indiana Fever’s off-season moves. They kicked off the off season by bringing in 2023 WNBA Coach of the Year Stephanie White—who already knows what it takes to win a title in Indiana! Add to that the All-Star firepower of DeWanna Bonner and Natasha Howard! The expectations are sky high among the Fever fans. The goal? A deep playoff run. And Caitlin Clark knows that for the Fever to get there, she has to improve a part of her game.
In the WNBA, technical fouls come with real consequences. Once a player racks up seven techs in a season, they’re hit with a one-game suspension. But it doesn’t stop there! For every other technical post your 7th, you get suspended as well. And yep, it gets expensive too. The first three technicals cost $200 each. Technicals 4 through 6? That jumps to $400 a pop. Once you hit seven or more, it’s $800 per technical. The silver lining? Come playoff time, that tally resets.
This season, Caitlin Clark knows she’s got to keep her cool. The rookie sensation picked up 6 technicals last year—just one away from a suspension. “I was close to getting suspended for our last game,” Clark admitted on the Bird & Taurasi Show. But she’s determined not to repeat the same mistakes by promising coach Stephanie White that she’ll keep it to just two techs this season.
Coach Stephanie White had her say too and she kept it real on the Good Follow podcast with Ros Gold and Logan Hackett. “It’s the nagging ones, right? Like the getting on the official and continuing to nag and nag—that’s my job,” White said with a smile. “So I think for me it’s about helping her navigate when to do it and when not to… helping her maintain a constructive channel for a lot of that competitive spirit.”
Clark actually finished tied for second in technical fouls last season—right up there with Mercury guards Diana Taurasi and Kahleah Copper. The only player ahead of them? Natasha Cloud, also from the Mercury, who racked up seven technicals and even had to serve a one-game suspension.
Former Iowa women’s basketball player Caitlin Clark reacts after a foul call on Iowa during the Drake vs. Iowa basketball game at Knapp Center on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Des Moines.
To help with that growth, Coach White has pointed Caitlin toward a familiar name—Fever legend Tamika Catchings. Known for her fiery play and passion, Catchings eventually learned how to channel that intensity the right way. “You know, I think it’s important for Caitlin to utilize Tamika Catchings because Catch was the same way,” White shared. It’s a full-circle moment too. The last time the Fever lifted the championship trophy, Catchings was leading the charge on the court and White was right there on the bench as an assistant under Lin Dunn. Perhaps this will put an end to Clark getting silly technicals once and for all? Only time will say!
White also noted the improvements Clark made this offseason. Let’s take a look at what Coach had to say.
Stephanie White talks about the things Caitlin Clark has worked on this offseason
Following a first-round playoff exit to the Connecticut Sun in 2024, the Fever made several key offseason changes, and they’re looking like one of the favorites for the championship this season. Of course, any team with CC on it is one to watch, but last season, the rookie faced challenges adjusting to the league’s physicality. She’s worked hard on improving that this offseason.
Coach White had high praise, saying, “She is stronger, first and foremost.” The HC further added, “She’s got a lot of self-awareness. She figured out right away: I need to get stronger, I can’t get knocked around as much. She’s done a great job of getting in the weight room and focusing on her strength, in terms of low center of gravity, time under tension.”
The 2025 WNBA season kicks off in May, with Indiana hosting the Chicago Sky and Clark’s rival Angel Reese. The Fever will have their eyes set on improving from last season’s performance and making a serious push for the playoffs. A lot of that will hinge on how Caitlin Clark adjusts her game to meet the physical standards of the league. It’s going to be an exciting season ahead!
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