Stephanie White returns to Indiana Fever after leave for personal reasons
Coach Stephanie White returned to the Indiana Fever after stepping away for personal reasons.
Up next” Fever at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m., Tuesday
INDIANAPOLIS – After missing a few days to tend to a personal matter, Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White returned to her team Monday.
White took some time away as her partner’s mother was going through a serious health issue, according to ESPN’s NBA Finals broadcast. White’s partner is ESPN sideline reporter Lisa Salters, and she missed reporting on Game 2 of the Finals in Oklahoma City on Sunday night because of the family emergency.
“I’m doing alright, and it’s helpful that we have such a great group that poured into me and helped to give me some strength,” White said Monday. “I always say that we have three head coaches on our staff, and knowing that they continue to step up gives me comfort. Our family’s working through a hard time right now, but no matter what, I’m going to be where my feet are, and I’m really thankful for this group.”
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Austin Kelly, the first assistant on the Fever’s staff, took over for White for Friday’s practice and Saturday’s game at Chicago. He led the Fever, who were without Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham, to a 79-52 win over Chicago, getting Indiana back to .500 on the year. Assistants Briann January and Karima Christmas-Kelly also took on larger roles over those few days.
“It’s not a surprise, because when you look at Austin and you look at Bri, both of them are ready to be head coaches in this league,” White said. “We’re very fortunate that we have them on our staff. You know, I thought his poise and his communication, it’s always been very clear. We’re all aligned on what way we see the game, and I was just really proud of him.”
White and Kelly have a similar coaching style, making it easy for the Fever players to adjust between the two coaches for a short time. Kelly has been working with White for three years now, as she hired him on her staff in Connecticut in 2023 and he followed her to Indianapolis when she became the head coach of the Fever.
“I think AK did a great job as acting head coach,” Fever center Aliyah Boston said Monday. “And I think Steph coming back, once again, grateful that she’s back with us. And I think for us, it’s just one keeping the main thing, the main thing, and that’s coming in, and make sure that we’re ready for Atlanta, which we did today.”
And White has always had the utmost confidence in her staff. They’ve all known each other for over a decade, dating back to the Fever’s 2012 championship team. With Lin Dunn, still with the team as a senior advisor, as the head coach of that 2012 team, she had White on staff as assistant coach, January and Christmas-Kelly on the team, and Kelly as a practice player.
Dunn took White under her wing during those years, teaching her how to become a head coach. Now that White is in that position, she’s putting her trust in Kelly and January, preparing them to be head coaches someday, as well. And that preparation helped make the transition between White and Kelly so seamless.
And if White needs to step away again, she knows she can trust in her staff.
“I give all that credit to Lin Dunn, because when I was here as an assistant coach, Lin Dunn poured into me to prepare me to be ready, when it was my turn, and it was like we were one coach,” White said. “And she taught me how to be a coach that empowers and prepares other coaches to be head coaches, … Austin’s ready. Bri is ready. They both are. And they’ve grown. They’ve learned. They’ve taken advantage of their opportunities. And it’s not a hesitation at all. If I can’t be here, they’re ready.”
Chloe Peterson is the Indiana Fever beat reporter for IndyStar. Reach her at capeterson@gannett.com or follow her on X at @chloepeterson67. Get IndyStar’s Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Caitlin Clark Fever newsletter.