Fever coach Stephanie White reveals Caitlin Clark’s motivation after interview

The talk of the women’s basketball community heading into November is the Indiana Fever, who announced on Friday that they have hired head coach Stephanie White.

White spent the last two seasons as the head coach of the Connecticut Sun, where she produced a 55-25 regular season record, won the 2023 WNBA Coach of the Year Award and came one win away from taking her Sun team to the WNBA Finals against New York Liberty.

But that’s all in the past now as White will take his talents to a Fever team that looks set to be a true championship contender for years to come.

The key to Indiana’s success last season was rookie guard Caitlin Clark, who orchestrated the Fever’s lethal offense and helped lead them to their first WNBA playoff appearance since 2016.

During an interview with ESPN on Friday, White revealed that she spoke with Clark the night before her hiring was announced — and offered the 22-year-old plenty of praise.

“I talked to Caitlin last night and I think it’s a general tension,” White said when asked what her and Clark’s conversation consisted of. “I’ve been watching Caitlin play since she was in eighth grade… and it’s just been an exciting time for me. Very excited to work with her and with this young team.

White then discussed both her and Clark wearing No. 22 while playing at Indiana, ending the segment by saying, “I just can’t wait. She’s a student of the game, she loves the game of basketball, she’s been so great with how she has handled all the attention.

“She just wants to play, she just wants to win. And I look forward to coaching players that way,” White added.

Clark’s motivation to play and win looks set to bear fruit next season.