The Indiana Fever took the next step in their rebuild by hiring former Connecticut Sun Head Coach, Stephanie White. After two seasons with the Sun, she joined the Fever to help them improve their young roster. Led by the 2024 Rookie Of The Year, Caitlin Clark, Indiana made the playoffs as the sixth seed, but lost to the Sun in a tightly contested series. They made the Head Coaching change from Christie Sides to Stephanie White, which should improve the Fever in more ways than one. With White returning as the coach for Indiana for the first time since 2016, she has the chance to win a championship sooner rather than later.
The Fever struggled during the first month of the season, with their defense being the negative outlier in 2024. During the rest of the season, they became one of the hottest teams in the league while playing average defense. With White, the Sun finished as the top defense in the league, with an average offense. While their defense can be attributed to the roster, the coaching should also be credited. Indiana has the second-youngest roster in the league, which is understandable for a rebuilding team. Young teams thrive off a coach who has experienced success in the league, and White fits that description. A rebuilding squad like the Fever usually doesn’t have a lot of playoff experience, and that’s another area where their new coach can help. While they made the postseason last year, their lack of knowledge was evident in their first-round exit. White’s prior success in the postseason can be helpful to further guide Indiana. Although her teams have been successful over the past two seasons, she also impacts the individual players who play in her system.
Through two seasons at Connecticut, one of the most impactful players was guard Dijonai Carrington (DEE-juh-nay). She won the Most Improved Player award this past season thanks to her talent, however, more because of the opportunity given by White. Before Connecticut’s head coaching change, Carrington only started three games in two seasons and only averaged 13.4 minutes per game. Last season, White inserted her into the starting lineup, and Carrington averaged 12.7 points, and 1.6 steals in 29.6 minutes per contest. The Fever has many players who fly under the radar but could break out under a new coach. Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell led them last season, but their secret weapon could be fully discovered next season.
Three-point specialist Lexie Hull led the league in three-point percentage after the All-Star break, shooting 63% from beyond the arc over the last 14 games. Her shooting ability has been an important part of her game and will flourish for years. Under new leadership, Hull has the potential to become one of the best three and D players in the league thanks to her clutch defense. Towards the end of close games, there seems to be a switch flipped on where she steps up on defense. Hull does whatever she's asked to do on offense, but her defensive pressure helps win them games. White can unleash Hull as a two-way player in her third season, which would be a big boost for the team next year.
Although their path toward a championship is clearer, the Fever need more pieces before becoming contenders. There are many free agents that could fit in Indiana, and White appeals as a coach other players want to play for. With a new leader at the helm, the tables are turned towards the management to help the Fever take a step closer to a championship.
