Indiana Fever hires Stephanie White as head coach

White will hold an introductory press conference Monday at 3:00 PM ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Fever announced on Friday that the team has named Stephanie White as Head Coach. White, a West Lebanon, Indiana native and Purdue alumna, returns to the franchise where she spent six seasons (as head coach in 2015-2016 and assistant coach from 2011-2014) on the sidelines.

“As we enter this new era of Fever basketball, I am excited to welcome Stephanie back to the franchise,” said Fever President of Basketball Operations Kelly Krauskopf. “Stephanie is 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 convinced that there is no one who better understands our culture or is better equipped to lead our group of players to the next level.”

“I am incredibly proud and honored to return home to Indiana and lead the Fever during such a pivotal time in the history of this franchise, but also during such an important time in women’s athletics,” said White. “This franchise has always been committed to winning and always will be. I look forward to working every day to deliver another WNBA title to the greatest basketball fans in the world.”

White spent the past two seasons as head coach of the Connecticut Sun, where she led the team to consecutive WNBA Semifinals appearances, posting a 55-25 record during that span. During the 2023 season, she was named WNBA Coach of the Year and Associated Press Coach of the Year, and was also named head coach in the 2023 WNBA All-Star Game.

White enters 2025 with a combined experience of 17 seasons as a player and coach in the WNBA. Prior to Connecticut, she spent two seasons as head coach of the Indiana Fever, compiling a 37-31 overall record and a 6-6 playoff record, including a trip to the 2015 WNBA Finals and a postseason berth in 2016. Before becoming head coach for the Fever, White spent four seasons as an assistant coach (2011-2014), most notably helping Indiana to its first WNBA championship in 2012.

White also served as head coach at Vanderbilt (2016-21), assistant coach for the Chicago Sky (2007-10) and assistant coach at the collegiate level at Toledo (2005-07), Kansas State (2004-05) and Ball State ( 2003-04).

As a player, White played five seasons in the WNBA and spent most of her career with the Fever, who acquired her prior to the franchise’s inaugural season in 2000. She currently ranks in the top 20 in franchise history in games played ( 112), assists (225), steals (115) and three-point field goals made (92).

White also had a standout collegiate career, playing four seasons for Purdue from 1995 to 1999. During her senior campaign, she led the Boilermakers to the 1999 NCAA National Championship while also earning Big Ten Conference Player of the Year and Wade Trophy honors. At Purdue, White collected 2,182 career points and was inducted into the Purdue Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006.

As a player at Seeger High School, White was named USA Today National Player of the Year, WBCA High School All-American and MVP of the WBCA All-American game. A three-time AP all-state selection, she set the IHSAA girls basketball scoring record at 2,869 career points, including a single-game high of 66 points.