Stephanie White’s first WNBA season as head coach of the Indiana Fever was full of twists and turns. The centerpiece of the team, superstar point guard Caitlin Clark, started battling injuries in the preseason and only played 13 games in the regular season.
Tough circumstances continued in the form of waiving veteran DeWanna Bonner, a family emergency for White and a total of five season-ending injuries by the time the postseason arrived. Still, the 2025 Fever season ended with a franchise record 24 wins and a memorable run to the semifinals of the WNBA playoffs. In her exit interview, White said the season could be summed up in one word: “resilience.”
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Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark talks with head coach Stephanie White.© Emily Faith Morgan-Imagn Images
Among the things that the head coach did not expect when she joined from the Connecticut Sun was the attitude she saw on a daily basis from Clark this year. White previously had an appreciation for Clark’s accomplishments, but she said she did not fully realize everything Clark goes through until she saw it in person.
“With Caitlin, you know she’s a hard worker because of what she’s been able to accomplish,” White said on the latest episode of Sue Bird’s “Bird’s Eye View” podcast. “But until you see that there is no wasted movements, no wasted reps, no wasted anything, you just have such level of respect for how she goes about her work every day.”
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That kind of work ethic is the baseline for all WNBA players. What struck White was how Clark managed it while carrying the responsibilities that come with being the face of the league and the sport. It reminded her of the kind of dedication typically reserved for global music or movie stars.
“Understanding the spotlight that she’s on, understanding the weight that she carries because of who she is, she’s literally like Taylor Swift 2.0,” White said. “Somehow, she’s able to compartmentalize and come to the gym, get everything that she has to get done. She’s off doing everything all the time. But when she’s there, she’s working.”
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It is a comparison that would flatter Clark, who considers herself a Swift fan and attended two of her “Eras Tour” shows. The 23-year-old has continued to tightrope her busy schedule this offseason, balancing speaking engagements with injury recovery and a bit of time on the golf course.
As concerns linger about whether or not there will be a WNBA season in 2026, Clark is currently preparing for the upcoming USA Basketball women’s national team training camp in Durham, North Carolina from Dec. 12 to Dec. 14.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Dec 5, 2025, where it first appeared in the WNBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
