Indiana Fever hires former Sun coach Stephanie White to replace Christie Sides

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – SEPTEMBER 13: Head coach Stephanie White of the Connecticut Sun watches the action during the game against the Phoenix Mercury at the Footprint Center on September 13, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Sun defeated the Mercury 88-69. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is agreeing to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) — Stephanie White led the Connecticut Sun to a combined record of 55-25 in two seasons as head coach. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

The Indiana Fever has hired Stephanie White as its new head coach for the 2025 season, the team announced Friday.

White coached the Connecticut Sun for two seasons, leading the team to a combined record of 55-25 and two consecutive playoff appearances. She was named WNBA Coach of the Year in 2023, her first year in Connecticut.

Stephanie White is homegrown.

🏠 Indiana Miss Basketball at Seeger High School in West Lebanon, IN
🚂 Brought with you @PurdueWBB their first-ever national championship
🏆 Assistant coach for our first @WNBA championship

There is no one better to lead us into the next era of fever… pic.twitter.com/ijK5ymdcYo

– Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) November 1, 2024

“As we enter this new era of Fever basketball, I am thrilled to welcome Stephanie back to the franchise,” Indiana President of Basketball Operations Kelly Krauskopf said in a statement. “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 am quite familiar with her elite basketball IQ and leadership style. I am confident that there is no one who understands our culture better or is better able to take our group of players to the next level.”

“I am incredibly proud and honored to return to Indiana and lead the Fever at such a pivotal moment in this franchise’s history, as well as such an important time in women’s athletics,” White said in the team’s statement.

White replaces Christie Sides, who was fired by the Fever on Oct. 27 after two seasons. The Sides led Indiana to its first playoff appearance in eight years last season before being defeated by White’s Sun in the first round.

After weeks of speculation about White’s future, the Sun announced on October 28 that the team and White had parted ways in what appeared to be an amicable decision. Reports circulated that White had spoken to other teams about her future.

Following those discussions, White will now return to Indiana, where she coached for six seasons and began as an assistant in 2011. She was eventually promoted to the team’s head coach in 2015 and spent two seasons in that position before moving on to coach Vanderbilt women’s basketball.

White, also from Indiana, was a standout basketball player at Purdue. She spent most of her five-year WNBA career with the Fever before becoming a coach.

The Fever’s key young stars Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston both seem excited about White joining the team, and the two reposted the coaching announcement on their Instagram Stories.

White told ESPN earlier this week that the decision to leave Connecticut was made for both professional and personal reasons. “It’s not an easy decision to leave Connecticut, but I think it’s the best one for my family and my career,” White told ESPN.

In addition to White joining the team, Indiana will begin next season with a new front office: Kelly Krauskopf will be hired as president in September and Amber Cox will be hired as chief operating officer and general manager in October.

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