After winning the 2012 WNBA Finals, it took the Indiana Fever three years to return to the championship stage. In 2015, they came in more prepared than ever. That year, they ranked third in points allowed per game (77.7), fifth in defensive rating (99.9), and shot 36% from beyond the arc. Still, despite the talent, it wasn’t enough to overcome the Minnesota Lynx. Under the leadership of then-head coach Stephanie White, the Fever lost the Finals 2-0 and fell behind in the all-time series, 18-12. Now, more than a decade later, the HC is back, and she’s chasing redemption. And just like last time, she’s coming in prepared. Don’t just take our word for it, just ask the analyst.

With plenty happening in the Fever locker room, Jordan Robinson was recently asked about team dynamics during The Women’s Hoops Show. One question stood out: “The last time the Indiana Fever were in the Finals, Stephanie White was the head coach… So could she do it again?”

Before answering, Robinson assessed the Fever’s recent progress. In case you missed it, the team is coming off its most promising season in years. Since Caitlin Clark joined the roster, Indiana has surged on offense. While it took time for things to click, the post-Olympic break stretch saw the Fever go on an 8-2 run, ultimately earning their first playoff appearance since 2016 with a 20-20 record.

So yes, the potential is real. That’s why Robinson confidently replied, “Maybe. I think only good can come out of a Stephanie White-run team with Caitlin Clark. I just think this is a perfect pair. Not only are they going to make the playoffs, but I think they’re going to make a deep run this autumn.”

Robinson has reason to believe

Clark and White was a match made right even before it was official. The head coach has watched CC grow, has lived her share of glitz as an Indiana legend, and came in with a plan to bring glory to the state that has shaped so much of her life. “I’m a forward thinking, outside the box kind of coach. I like to challenge them on a number of levels,” she had said embracing her new team. Months in, White has perfected plan to the tee for her star player.

Clark broke no less than 19 records during her rookie season, but she’s not satisfied. She’s not resting on her laurels, and White is determined to help her level up.

“She figured out right away, ‘I need to get stronger. I can’t get knocked around as much,’” White said in a recent interview. “She’s done a great job of getting in the weight room and focusing on her strength — low center of gravity, time under tension, all of those things. I think the next step is efficiency. Fewer turnovers, higher field goal percentage.”

Clark is currently averaging 5.6 turnovers per game — improving that will sharpen her decision-making under pressure. But that’s not all. Her 41.7% field goal shooting needs to improve too, especially against elite WNBA defenses.

But that doesn’t end there. Clark’s stardom puts her under constant pressure, and rough treatment. Remember the Flagrant 1 foul from Chennedy Carter last season? Even in the playoffs, she played through visible bruises. That’s exactly what White wants to prevent this time. She’s looking at unpredictable finishes from Clark, she’s thinking more of the 2024 ROTY on screening, she’s pushing for off ball movements to throw opponents’ strategies off the mark.

And if you think that’s all Robinson considered before predicting a deep playoff run — think again.

For Stephanie White, Caitlin Clark and Fever defense are primary focuses!

Ever since taking over the on-court reins for the Indiana Fever three months ago, head coach Stephanie White has been crafting a strategy. Step one? Figuring out how a roster with so much talent still missed the playoffs. The answer was clear, defense.

Despite having frontcourt stars like Aliyah Boston and NaLyssa Smith, the Fever allowed an average of 87.7 points per game last season. That defensive lapse ranked them 11th out of 12 WNBA teams, with a defensive rating of 109.5. White knew exactly where to start.

“We’ve got to get better on the defensive end of the floor,” she told The Athletic. As head coach of the Connecticut Sun, White led a defensive powerhouse. In 2024, the Sun posted a league-best 96.4 defensive rating and allowed the fewest points per game (73.6), finishing 28–12 with a deep postseason run.

Now, she’s applying that same defensive mindset in Indiana, and she’s not doing it alone.

To support her, the Fever brought in Briann January as an assistant coach, a six-time WNBA All-Defensive Team selection and former Fever player. She’s the only person on staff who shared the 2015 Finals run with White, and her defensive pedigree could be a game-changer for this young squad.

White and January are already shaping a new identity. By Day 3 of training camp, the Fever had assembled a formidable defensive unit. There’s Brianna Turner, a two-time All-Defensive First Team selection, Natasha Howard, another proven defender with two All-Defensive Team honors, DeWanna Bonner who brings ability to defend multiple positions, and Veteran guard Sydney Colson injecting vocal leadership and defensive intensity.

Well, this isn’t all yet. There’s another player, an ALl-ACC defense team honoree, Makayla Timpson. While she’s not yet added to the mix, but considering her potential who knows, she might be next. So, after seeing all the pieces White and the Fever have put in place, is Robinson right to believe they’re built for a title run?