WNBA podcaster takes issue with Fever signing husband and wife couple to coach Caitlin Clark: “I’ve seen a lot of weird things”
After her rookie season, Caitlin Clark finds herself with an entirely new coaching staff. As the Indiana Fever continues to fill out its staff for the 2025 season, one analyst shared his thoughts on an interesting hire.
Just two years into her tenure with the Fever, Christie Sides was dismissed as head coach. Shortly after, she was replaced by former Connecticut Sun coach Stephanie White.
Earlier this week, the Fever announced additions to White’s staff on the Fever. Two of her assistants will be Austin Kelly and Karima Christmas-Kelly. These hires have caught a lot of attention as the two coaches are husband and wife.
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While on his podcast, Mike Walker shared his thoughts on the coaching shake-up around Caitlin Clark. He admitted that a husband and wife being on the same staff together is something that he has never seen before.
(2:21) “I don’t get it,” Walker said. “Is this the WNBA’s way of coming and adding husband and wife couples, is that the message that we’re sending here?”
“I’ve seen a lot of weird things in professional sports,” he continued. “I haven’t seen this.”
Fresh off leading the Sun to the third-best record in the WNBA last season, she’ll now be coaching an exciting young core of Clark, Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston.
The Indiana Fever have put the right coaching staff around Caitlin Clark
Following her historic rookie season, many stressed the importance of the Fever putting a strong coaching staff around Caitlin Clark moving forward. While hiring a married couple has raised some eyebrows, it shouldn’t be an issue given who will be leading the charge.
Dating back to her time at Iowa, Clark has been a big fan of Stephanie White. While speaking to the media after her WNBA debut, she praised the longtime coach for her basketball savvy.
“I just think she has a really great basketball mind,” Clark said of White. “She’s been a trail blazer honestly. I think she’s always been someone who has been supportive of my game.”
Based on some of White’s comments since taking the job, it appears there is mutual respect between the coach and the star player. During an appearance on ESPN earlier this month, the Fever’s new coach touched on the franchise’s generational talent.
“This young exciting roster,” White said. “You think about generational player in Caitlin Clark. Back-to-back Rookie of the Years with Aliyah Boston.”
Seeing how Clark and White are already big fans of each other, there should be no concerns when it comes to the Fever’s coaching staff. The proper pieces continue to be put in place to improve the trajectory of the franchise moving forward.
