Homecoming: Fever welcome back Stephanie White as head coach

Stephanie White will be patrolling the sideline once again for the Indiana Fever.

On Friday, the Fever named the West Lebanon, Ind., native as their head coach. White previously held the same post from 2015-16 following a four-year stint as the club's assistant coach.

"As we enter this new era of Fever basketball, I am thrilled to welcome Stephanie back to the franchise," said Kelly Krauskopf, Fever president of basketball operations.

"Stephanie is a part of the fabric of this franchise, both as a former player and as a member of our championship coaching staff, so I'm quite familiar with her elite basketball IQ and leadership style. I am confident there is no one who better understands our culture or is more equipped to lead our group of players to the next level."

The hiring of White comes four days after she was let go by the Connecticut Sun and five days after the Fever fired Christie Sides as their head coach.

White, 47, compiled a 37-31 record with Indiana before departing to become the head coach at Vanderbilt for five seasons.

She took over the Connecticut Sun in 2023, leading them to a 27-13 record that year and a 28-12 finish in 2024 before losing in the playoff semifinals both seasons. White was named WNBA Coach of the Year in 2023.

"I am incredibly proud and honored to return home to Indiana and lead the Fever during such a pivotal moment in this franchise's history, as well as during such an important time throughout women's athletics," White said. "This franchise has and always will be committed to winning and I look forward to working every day to help deliver another WNBA title to the greatest basketball fans in the world."

White played high school and college basketball (Purdue) in Indiana before getting drafted in the second round by the WNBA's Charlotte Sting in 1999. She played four seasons with the Fever (2000-01, 2003-04).

The Fever parted ways with Sides after a 20-20 season that ended in the opening round of the playoffs.

Sides, who was 33-47 over two seasons with Indiana, had the responsibility of guiding the development of Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark, back-to-back WNBA Rookies of the Year.

--Field Level Media