Stephanie White’s phrases of recommendation for famous person Caitlin Clark can pave means for season of success.
Newly appointed as head coach of the Indiana Fever, White is making ready to take cost and her ambitions for subsequent season are clear.
2
Clark, who was named TIME’s Athlete of the Yr, had a stellar debut season within the WNBA.
The 22-year-old swept up awards and information as she was voted Rookie of the Yr together with setting the single-season and single sport information in assists, setting a brand new rookie scoring file and changing into the primary rookie to realize a triple-double.
Clark’s superb particular person marketing campaign helped the Fever attain the playoffs for the primary time since 2016 however that was not sufficient for ex-head coach Christie Sides to maintain her job.
The Fever fired Sides in October and changed her with the 2023 WNBA Coach of the Yr, Stephaine White who was beforehand the pinnacle coach of the Connecticut Solar.
White has made clear what she expects of Clark of their bid to turn into champions.
“She adjusted actually rapidly to this league, unbelievably rapidly. And now it is about changing into not only a nice participant however an important chief for this staff, so we are able to win not only a championship however championships,” White mentioned on the Teaching U Podcast.
The 47-year-old head coach pressured that Clark’s enchancment on the court docket is simply as necessary as bettering off the court docket too and revealed what her and Clark spoke about of their first dialog.
“She’s an important participant, she’s a excessive IQ participant,” White mentioned.
“My first dialog along with her the opposite day about Xs and Os was like, ‘Properly how do you wish to enhance?’ After which we’ll speak about how we wish to do this.
“After which I speak about how we are able to use her and assist her however extra environment friendly and more practical usually.”
2
White was additionally a WNBA participant, with 5 years within the league and likewise defined that she understands the pressures these younger gamers are dealing with and claims she may help the likes of Clark along with her expertise.
“Simply being there to assist her navigate among the issues she’s navigating [is something I’m happy to be able to do],” the 47-year-old mentioned.
“I do not assume that anybody of us can perceive what she goes by way of each day… She carries a heavy load with our league and along with her talents and her recognition. She’s like Taylor Swift 2.0.
“So simply being somebody who’s been a participant on this league and somebody who’s navigated among the issues, not the entire issues, however among the issues she’s going by way of and being a useful resource for her [will hopefully help].”
White has already began her duties and is returning to acquainted environment as she served on the Fever’s teaching employees from 2011 to 2016, with the final two years as the pinnacle coach.
Clark will return to motion within the upcoming WNBA season which begins in Might and can hope to make it back-to-back playoff appearances for her and the Fever.