Caitlin Clark is one of the WNBA’s most popular superstars, and her influence over the Indiana Fever is impossible to ignore. However, if WNBA analyst Annie Costabile is to be believed, the guard’s power within the franchise could extend much further than what happens on the court.

During an appearance on the Flagrant and Funny podcast, Costabile made an interesting observation about Clark’s standing in Indiana, particularly related to head coach Stephanie White. According to her, if Clark ever genuinely wanted a coaching change, White would be gone.

“There are players, you guys know this too, in every sports league who have the power to demand a coaching change,” she told hosts Cari Champion and Jemele Hill in a clip posted to Instagram by the Flagrant and Funny podcast.

“Caitlin Clark is certainly one of them. In all sports, there are stars with enough power to say, ‘We gotta go in a different direction.’ LeBron James did it a bunch of times in his career. Like, we see this happen. At this current stage, the statement from [general manager] Kelly Krauskopf, that is, to my understanding, the very genuine belief and respect level for Stephanie White.”

While Costabile didn’t actually suggest that Clark wants her head coach gone, it’s clear from her comments that if the situation ever arose, regardless of how much respect the team has for White, they would be behind Clark.

Costabile also explained that the respect for White is quite high. Instead, Costabile believes that the challenge is dealing with the enormous spotlight placed on the Fever.

“Stephanie White is one of the most respected coaches in the WNBA,” she said. “Her biggest challenge is being the great coach that she is while also navigating the circus that is the Indiana Fever. The idea that she is not a respected coach or the coach that the Fever organization executives want is just ridiculous.”

That “circus” has intensified over the last few weeks. The transgender controversy around the WNBA’s eligibility criteria has now snowballed into a league-wide debate. This debate began after Fever guard Sophie Cunningham’s comments on a July 21 ESPN report. The theatrics did not stop here.

Earlier this year, Clark and White were seen in an argument on the sideline during a loss to the Portland Fire on May 30, leading many to feel that there was friction between them. In the aftermath, both Clark and White have downplayed the tension, with the coach telling reporters on June 2 that she has a “great relationship” with Clark, while the guard added that it was just “two people being competitive.”

To make things worse, White also faced heavy criticism when she came to the defense of her former player, DiJonai Carrington, after the guard flagrantly fouled Sophie Cunningham during the Fever’s game against the Chicago Sky on August 8. She told reporters after the game that she didn’t think Carrington’s actions were intended to hurt Cunningham, leading to many calling for her dismissal, reading it as a defense of the opponent.

However, it doesn’t look like Stephanie White is going anywhere other than Indiana anytime soon, but if Clark ever decides otherwise, Costabile might end up being right.