Stephanie White just put a wrap on her first season back as the head coach of the Indiana Fever and she put on one of the best coaching displays of anybody in the WNBA.
She led the Fever to the semifinals, while not having several key pieces, most notably Caitlin Clark, who was sidelined with a season-ending groin injury. They also were without Sophie Cunningham, Sydney Colson, Aari McDonald, and Chloe Bibby.
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Despite all of that, Indiana defied some astronomical odds to bring the Las Vegas Aces to seven games in the conference finals, which they ultimately lost in overtime.
Now, with the offseason here, the Fever will have some major questions to answer in terms of there roster and recently White made it very clear what the team’s “number one priority” this offseason is All-Star guard Kelsey Mitchell, who is entering unrestricted free agency.
“We want to continue to build around [Kelsey Mitchell],” White said. “She is absolutely the number one priority.”
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Fever fans reacted to White’s comments:
“Obviously kelsey is #1 because CC is under contract. If white is a great coach and get them playing well together, at least 3 rings in next 5 years,” a fan said.
Someone else added, “I mean, they’d be crazy not to prioritize Kelsey Mitchell especially after the run that she had in the playoffs.”
Another person wrote, “Kelsey Mitchell is a fantastic offensive talent. I’d prioritize her too. She’s a cheat code when the offense breaks down, when the team is in a slump. KM seems to always be on.”
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“Of course she’s priority. AB and CC are still on rookie contracts for next season and KM was all WNBA this past season. No conspiracy. Stop the ridiculousness,” one more fan commented.
Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White and guard Kelsey Mitchell (0) during game two of round one against the Atlanta Dream for the 2025 WNBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Some fans took White’s comments out of context, interpreting them as a slight toward Caitlin Clark’s role as the team’s franchise centerpiece. However, Clark remains under her rookie contract, along with forward Aliyah Boston.
Losing Kelsey Mitchell in free agency would be a significant blow, as she led the team in scoring last season, appeared in every regular-season and postseason game, and finished among the top five in MVP voting.
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Related: Indiana Fever Name ‘Hardest Player in the League To Guard’
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Oct 23, 2025, where it first appeared in the WNBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
