The growth, excitement, and respect have been so evident in the past few months between Caitlin Clark and Stephanie White, you’d believe the two have worked together since forever. Lin Dunn even calls her the coach for Caitlin Clark. But before this dynamic, the two Indiana icons admired each other from afar– White called her college games, and CC saw her growing into an Indiana legend. And on these different journeys, did the HC really understand the magnitude of Clark’s popularity.

For their second preseason game, the Indiana Fever witnessed a response unlike ever before. As they took to the court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, 15,000 fans filled up the seats while 1.3 million (peaking at 1.6 million) viewed from home on ESPN. The love was roaring as Indiana red replaced the Iowa white and gold. Kelsey Mitchell would admit she felt like a Hawkeye that day. That was a perfect example to describe the Caitlin Clark effect.

But Stephanie White, who described the atmosphere as “electric,” had a better one to share, looking at the crowd.

‘Youuu Bet’ fame Ryan Ruocco, on the recent episode of the Fieldhouse Files, shared a story White had told him during the recent preseason game. It was about “the first time she really fully understood the magnitude of Caitlin’s fan base.” Ruocco goes on to narrate:

“She (Stephanie) was doing a game on the road, and I believe it was Maryland and the fans that had gathered in the lobby, and the crowd was so intense. It created such traffic around the hotel that it took her 45 minutes to get to the arena which is about half a mile away. And this was her (Caitlin’s) junior year.”

Yes, 45 minutes to cross a half-mile distance. Stephanie White may have been used to it now, avoiding any such long waits to enter the arena, but she has lived the Caitlin Clark effect. Speaking of it previously, the HC revealed how people had flooded the lobby, security everywhere, giving it an NBA or an NFL player feel. There’s an interesting comparison she makes for that.

“I was talking to somebody who said that she’s the Taylor Swift of women’s basketball,” she revealed on another episode of the Fieldhouse Files. A few days later, White’d go on to once again tag her “Taylor Swift 2.0.” She wouldn’t be far off, truth be told. Caitlin Clark has been on the other end of this long wait due to a celebrity and it was because of none other than the pop queen, Taylor herself.

“The traffic was the only bad part,” she said, speaking about the dissatisfying part of Taylor Swift concert in Indiana, which had pulled a combined total of 207,000 fans across three days. But White knows the weight of such popularity and has spoken about protecting her as well as they can.

“From our staff and franchise, it’s how do we help her navigate all of this? How do we help her protect her peace? Because it can be a lot,” she reveals their perspective. At just 23 years old, the 2024 ROTY has handled the fame rather gracefully. Kelsey Mitchell would attest for that, and so would Curt Miller, who is eyeing her rookie season management blueprint to take to his budding talent, Paige Bueckers. The trick seems to be simple for CC. She is aware of her status, acknowledges fans accordingly, but for all else, game is the only focus.

The star guard has already admitted to go ‘Championship or nothing’ this season with a coach who aligns and a team that compliments. And she treads the fame, she has got White right by her side.

No one better to understand Caitlin Clark’s dance with fame

When Caitlin Clark entered the league, Stephanie White was one of the few who welcomed her with open arms. She even asked to keep it ‘Chill’ when everyone criticized CC’s first few games’ struggles. “When I’m looking at all these things that people are talking about with Caitlin Clark, it’s like, guys, chill out,” White said. “She’s gonna be fine. It’s two games in, are you kidding me?” Even before CC entered the League, Stephanie was there showing her support to the Iowa star.

White was featured on an ESPN segment back when the 2024 WNBA Draft Lottery was revealed. When asked who the most WNBA-ready player in the draft was, White said, “To me, I think it’s Caitlin Clark. I think it’s Caitlin Clark not just because she can score the basketball really at all three levels, but she got stronger. She has gotten better every year, she put on six pounds of muscle from a season ago… and she reads the game,”

That’s a massive compliment from an individual who has seen so many great players in her life. Caitlin proved her right with a massive rookie season, breaking multiple records. Ironically, she did it with Stephanie’s Indiana Fever number.

The Indiana Fever posted White’s player photo to welcome her as a coach with CC and Stephanie White wearing the No. 22 Fever Jersey. The newly appointed coach was pleased with it and jokingly said, “It’s very cool, I saw when they posted that today, that’s unique, certainly. She’s a lot better #22, she puts the ball in the hole more, but I just can’t wait.”

The HC is ecstatic with the team and an opportunity to get to coach a player like Clark. She humbly labelled the opportunity as “I hope I can just be another resource for her.” Well, their regular season journey will start from May 16 as the Fever take on the Sky, and the Coach-player duo is ready for it.