Likely next coach Caitlin Clark was a familiar foe in WNBA’s rookie season

The Indiana Fever announced Sunday that it is parting ways with second-year head coach Christie Sides.

Considering this season saw the Sides lead the Fever into the WNBA playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade, it would make sense that the Fever either believe they are going to (or already have) someone they believe , better prepared to beat the Sides. place.

And an Oct. 27 report from Annie Costabile of the Chicago Sun-Times said that person will likely be current Connecticut Sun coach Stephanie White.

“Firing Sides paves the way for Stephanie White to return to Indiana. Although nothing has been officially done, many sources expect White, who is still under contract with the Sun, to become the next Fever coach,” Costabile wrote in the article.

White, who spent five seasons with the Fever while playing in the WNBA, became an assistant coach at Indiana from 2011-14 before taking over as the franchise’s head coach for the 2015-16 seasons, has proven herself to be an elite executive. WNBA coach.

Not only did she win the 2023 WNBA Coach of the Year award, but her dominance is evident in the way she handled Fever superstar Kaitlyn Clark this season.

Clarke played for the White’s Sun six times in her 2024 campaign, including the first and last games she played (Connecticut knocked the Fever out of the 2024 WNBA playoffs). That’s more than Indiana has played against any other team.

The former Iowa Hawkeyes legend averaged 17 points per game in those six contests, which is lower than her season-long average of 19.2 points per game.

Not to mention the Fever went 1-5 against the Sun.

White appears to have a better idea than anyone else when it comes to slowing down Clark’s signature offense. However, that wisdom could soon be used to make Clarke even better if White becomes her next head coach.