With the Indiana Fever already qualified for the playoffs, coach Stephanie White shifts her focus to keeping Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston sharp as the trio goes to Berlin with Team USA for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup.
While the rest of the WNBA takes a break from the action, White and the Fever appear to be at an advantage as Clark and Boston will both suit up for Team USA, which would give them more minutes to stay sharp ahead of the playoffs.
Though her job as the Fever’s head coach is on hold because of her duties as the assistant coach to Kara Lawson, White still has the Fever at the top of her head, especially when she’s being asked about their plans ahead of the playoffs.
“We want to be different heading into the playoffs, and we’ve got to be able to add some different things. We’ve got to make sure that time off doesn’t cause any rust. So playing a lot, getting up and down the floor.” White said during media availability at Wednesday’s practice.
She added, “We’ll be in constant communication, but they’ve been through it, so I trust them to find the right combinations.”
White explained that while the rest of the Fever squad will be given the first week to rest and rejuvenate, the last 10 days of the break would be focused on creating a structure and prioritize what they can do that will help them on the court.
While the former WNBA Coach of the Year will be busy in Berlin over the next three weeks, White will be leaving the Fever in the trusted hands of assistant coaches Austin Kelly and Briann January.
“She wants our fist so tight like Thanos”: Indiana Fever veteran shares words of encouragement from Stephanie White ahead of the World Cup break
Stephanie White may have a lot more on her plate come September 3, when Team USA’s campaign kicks off in Berlin for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup, but she never forgets about those she’ll be leaving behind.
Ahead of their Thursday home game against the Connecticut Sun, Indiana Fever veteran Tyasha Harris spoke to the press and shared what White told the team as she prepares to leave the country.
“Over the break, we’ll be practicing and waiting for [Clark and Boston] to come back,” Harris said. “Coach said that she wants our fist so tight that when they come back, they make it even tighter, like Thanos.”
After the Fever’s home game on Thursday, the WNBA will be on a three-week break to give way for their players participating in the World Cup. They will resume action on September 18, when they’ll take on the Toronto Tempo.