Stephanie White is once again tasked with steering the Indiana Fever towards success.
Following her recent appointment as the WNBA franchise’s head coach for the second time, the Indianapolis native has been given the mission to ignite a prosperous era for the team led by Caitlin Clark.
At just 22, Clark has already carved out a reputation as one of the league’s shining stars, having guided the Fever to their first playoff appearance in six years last season. Her stellar performances saw her become the first player ever to unanimously win the Rookie of the Year award.
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Keeping a franchise star like Clark content is best achieved through team success, and she could soon find herself partnering with college sensation Aneesah Morrow, who is poised to enter the 2025 WNBA Draft. If draft night goes smoothly, White could be off to a dream start in the highly anticipated sophomore season for the point guard.
Caitlin Clark re-signs
As she enters her second season in the WNBA, Clark will also be in the second year of her four-year contract with the Fever. Despite an early exit in the playoffs last season, the guard has shown no signs of discontent with the lack of post-season triumph in her debut campaign.
Retaining a key player like Clark throughout most of their career is crucial for any team. Given that players can’t renegotiate contracts mid-deal, White will be hoping that the 22-year-old commits to the Fever by signing a new contract when her current one expires.
Clark’s decision to stay with the Fever will likely hinge on championship aspirations given her intense competitive spirit, as White’s experience in title scenarios could be instrumental in ensuring she remains in Indiana.
The 22-year-old took the league by storm last season
Kelsey Mitchell’s return
In addition to keeping Clark on board, White will undoubtedly be striving to secure Kelsey Mitchell with a new contract. The two-time All Star was the team’s second-highest scorer in the 2024 season, averaging 19.2 points per game.
Entering the 2024 season in a contract year, Mitchell is currently exploring the free agent market but is anticipated to return to the Fever after being designated a ‘core player’ by the franchise, granting them exclusive negotiation rights for her next contract.
Since being drafted second overall in the 2018 Draft, the 29-year-old has been a consistent scorer for the Fever and is undeniably a critical component of a team aiming for a deep playoff run next season.
Fever President of Basketball Operations, Kelly Krauskopf, underscored her significance in their success: “She’s extremely important to the success of this, our future,” she acknowledged recently. “We intend to have lots of conversations and make sure she knows that, but I think she does know that.”
Mitchell (L) is one of the Fever’s most important players (
NBAE via Getty Images)
Aneesah Morrow drafted
LSU’s shining star Aneesah Morrow is on a hot streak this season, maintaining an unblemished 7-0 run, while putting up an impressive 18PPG and 13RPG. With the forward anticipated to join the 2025 WNBA Draft next spring, ESPN’s Michael Voepel envisions the Indiana Fever, who hold the number eight pick, opting for the 22-year-old dynamo.
College team-mates once with Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese, Morrow has been lauded by her previous LSU colleague who called for the media and fans to recognize her efforts. During her final LSU season, Reese said: “Me and Nees work hard every single day. I can’t do my job without Aneesah.
“So understanding like, everybody gives me the praise, but you’ve got to give Aneesah the praise for the things that she does, too. She does a lot of great things that I don’t do.
“So, I just don’t want to always get all the praise like giving Aneesah her props, and giving her flowers, she’s one of the top guards in the country. I don’t want this to always be on me.”
Morrow (L) has led LSU to an unbeaten start with the team currently 7-0 (
University Images via Getty Images)Don’t Miss
Fever’s Finals ambitions
Reflecting on last season’s 20-20 record, the Fever epitomized being average. Yet, with Clark gaining another year of growth and experience under her belt, she’s poised to elevate the team’s threat level notably.
The potential comeback of Mitchell, along with the prospective addition of Morrow, provides White with a compelling base to construct a championship team.
White’s own championship acumen is noteworthy. Her leadership led the Fever to the Finals in 2016, and her experience winning a championship ring with the franchise in 2012 as an assistant coach equips her with invaluable insight into what it takes to ascend to the pinnacle of the sport.
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