It didn’t take long for Caitlin Clark to recognize the stark contrast in coaching styles after the Indiana Fever appointed a new head coach. Under the direction of Christie Sides in 2024, Clark earned the title of WNBA Rookie of the Year and led the Fever to a .500 record (20-20), securing a playoff berth as the No. 6 seed. However, their playoff campaign was short-lived, as they were swept 2-0 in the first round by a seasoned Connecticut Sun squad. Just over a month after the loss, on October 27, Sides was dismissed, and five days later, Stephanie White was brought in as the new head coach.
Clark quickly discovered the tactical nuance White brought to the team, recognizing the advantage that helped White outmaneuver Sides’ strategies during their playoff encounter. Senior sports correspondent for Time Magazine, Sean Gregory, shared insights from a Fever shootaround, revealing Clark’s admiration for White’s approach. “I mentioned to Stephanie, ‘Caitlin really was impressed with your gameplan,’” Gregory recounted in an interview on The Sports Media Podcast. This comment was a testament to the shift in Clark’s perspective under White’s leadership.
Gregory further shared a revealing quote from Clark that offered candid insight into her thoughts on Sides’ gameplans: “We never really had the best gameplans back.” The bluntness of this statement underscored the dissatisfaction Clark felt with the prior season’s coaching. While it may have been a painful revelation for Sides, it also highlighted the stark difference in how Clark viewed the two coaching regimes. Gregory remarked that the comment was likely a pointed critique of the former coach, one that was not lost on those who followed the Fever closely.
Throughout the 2024 season, tensions between Clark and Sides were visible, with numerous instances of disagreement that showcased their lack of alignment. Clark broke her silence on Sides’ dismissal in Gregory’s Time feature, addressing rumors that she had a role in the firing. “I’m actually not the general manager of the team,” Clark bluntly stated, distancing herself from the narrative. Her comments further suggested that the issues with Sides were perhaps more apparent to the team than fans had realized, raising questions about the internal dynamics that led to the coach’s departure.
Now with White at the helm, the focus shifts to the future. With a deep understanding of the Fever’s history and a proven track record, White aims to bring the team back to championship contention. Having been part of the 2012 Fever squad that won the franchise’s first WNBA title, White’s return is seen as a turning point. Her prior coaching stints, including leading the Fever to the 2015 WNBA Finals and securing another postseason berth in 2016, make her uniquely qualified to maximize Clark’s immense potential and guide Indiana back to the playoffs.
