After drafting Caitlin Clark with the No. 1 pick in 2024, the Indiana Fever were expected to take the WNBA by storm. With a generational talent in their ranks, fans and analysts had high hopes for a deep postseason run. But reality struck early. Despite Clark dropping 25 points in Game 2 of the first-round playoff series, the Fever fell short against the Connecticut Sun (87-81), ending their season sooner than expected.
Now, returning head coach Stephanie White is setting the tone for 2025 and she’s being honest about the work that needs to be done.
Stephanie White Takes on a Challenging Task
In a recent appearance on the “Good Follow Podcast”, White addressed what she sees as the biggest challenge ahead: figuring out how to give Clark some much-needed rest during games without compromising the team’s offensive rhythm.
“The challenge for us as coaches is how do we get her to rest when she’s on the floor, while she’s playing… Like some of it’s going to be playing off-ball,” said White in the podcast.
In her debut season, Clark scored 19.2 points and 8.4 assists per game. But the load was heavy, and it showed. In her very first professional game on May 14, 2024, against the Connecticut Sun which is the same team that later ended Indiana’s playoff dreams, Clark scored 20 points but struggled with efficiency going 5-of-15 from the field and committing 10 turnovers. It was clear that while her talent is undeniable, the adjustment to the pro level would take time.
You can’t be predictable in the W.@IndianaFever HC @stephaniewhite breaks down what she’s working on with Caitlin Clark — the W hits different… and we’re ready for Year 2 Caitlin Clark.
Don’t miss the full convo with @rosgo21 & Stephanie White 👇
🎥: https://t.co/iq0iopLEH8 pic.twitter.com/xJUnF4HsT3— Good Follow (@GoodFollowShow) April 16, 2025
Now, White’s plan for 2025 is to reduce Clark’s workload in a smart and strategic way.
“Utilize her as a screener, getting her into action on the third and fourth side instead of the first and second, where it’s easy to game plan against. Now, how we use her to help everybody else be better off the ball. We know how great she is with the ball in her hands. We are not going to take that away,” said White in the podcast.
Despite the rocky start last year, there’s reason for optimism. White also revealed that Clark has shown clear improvement during preseason practices.
“From day one to day two, she had it. Like like she’s a perfectionist and she wants it and she’s going to work on it,” added White during the interview.
The Fever’s 2024 season may not have ended with a championship, but it laid a solid foundation. Now, with White back at the helm and a more refined game plan in place, Indiana is aiming to build on that momentum.
However, White has plans to overcome another problem of Clark.
White to Work on Clark’s Technical Foul Issue
During the Women’s NCAA Championship on April 6, Clark made an unexpected revelation on the “Bird & Taurasi Show”. The Indiana Fever rookie shared that she had accumulated six technical fouls last season and was just one short of a suspension.
Fever head coach White addressed Clark’s technical foul problem during her recent appearance on the “Good Follow Podcast” and said that she would be helping the young star find the right balance between passion and composure, ensuring her competitiveness doesn’t hurt the team.
“It’s the nagging ones, right? Like getting on the official and continuing to nag and nag—that’s my job. So I think for me it’s about helping her navigate when to do it and when not to. You know, helping her maintain a constructive channel for a lot of that competitive spirit,” said White during the podcast.
Moreover, she even suggested that Clark should follow the antics of Fever legend Tamika Catchings. That will help her to be on the safe side.
Clark, for her part, has already set a goal. She promised White that she’d limit herself to just two technical fouls this season. Now, all eyes will be on whether Clark can back up her promise as she gets ready for her second year in the league.
