Fever Coach Stephanie White's Absence: What REALLY Happened?!
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Stephanie White Returns to Fever After Absence
Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White has rejoined the team in Las Vegas after missing the first game of their West Coast road trip against the Golden State Valkyries. The team initially announced that White was tending to a personal matter, providing no specific timeline for her return.
Assistant coach Austin Kelly stepped in as acting head coach during White's absence, leading the Fever during their 88-77 loss to Golden State. This was Kelly's second time filling in for White this season, the first being on June 7 against Chicago. Assistants Briann January and Karima Christmas-Kelly also took on increased roles.
According to White, the transition was seamless due to the long-standing relationship between the coaching staff. "Rima, Bri, Austin, and I have been working together for the better part of 10, 12 years," White said Saturday. "... It goes back a decade-plus of seeing the game a certain way, understanding one another's strengths and weaknesses and putting each other in positions, just like our team, to be successful."
Continuity and Chemistry Key to Fever's Success
The coaching staff's history dates back to the 2012 Fever championship team, where January and Christmas-Kelly were players, Kelly was on the scout team, and White was an assistant coach. They maintained contact over the years, with January and Kelly joining White's staff in Connecticut in 2023 before following her to Indianapolis.
Kelly emphasized the continuity within the coaching staff: "Honestly, I think we're an extension of each other. The message is still the same, you know, we talked about in the locker room, playing for each other, getting it done."
White's first year with the Fever has been marked by significant progress. She led Indiana to a 6-5 start and a trip to the WNBA Commissioner's Cup final, a noteworthy achievement for a team that had struggled in recent years. Under her guidance, young stars like Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston have shown consistent growth, contributing to the team's improved performance.
The Fever face the Las Vegas Aces next, with fans eager to see White back on the sidelines leading her team.