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The Indiana Fever have been busy making waves this offseason, but not all of their moves are winning over the fans—or, let’s be honest, the internet’s army of armchair GMs. After dumping Christie Sides as head coach, the Fever decided to roll out the red carpet for drumroll—Stephanie White. And the fan reactions? Well, let’s just say not everyone’s doing backflips. One fan, in particular, took to social media to declare that firing Sides was “crazy” and, while they were at it, suggested that backup guard Erica Wheeler should join her in packing up.
If you thought Wheeler would take that quietly, guess again. The seasoned guard fired back on X (formerly Twitter because apparently, we needed that rebranding), laughing off the critique with:
“Hahaha you a hater! Love it. Stay there I need my haters too!”
Wheeler’s clapback may not have silenced the critics, but it definitely reminded them that she’s here for the long haul, haters or not. Hey, every star needs a fan club—even if some of them are wearing the wrong colors.
From Starter to the Shadows
Now, let’s rewind for a sec. Before the Fever drafted Caitlin Clark, a basketball phenom with a shooting range that makes most defenses want to crawl into a corner, Erica Wheeler was the queen of the Fever backcourt. She started every game in 2023, making a name for herself as a reliable playmaker. But when Clark showed up, well… let’s just say the spotlight dimmed on Wheeler, and her playing time took a nosedive. In the 2024 season, she averaged a modest 3.6 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 1.8 assists, all while playing just 14 minutes per game.
Is Wheeler’s role shrinking? Sure. Does she seem phased? Not even a little bit. If anything, she’s just waiting for more haters to fuel her fire.
The New Boss (Not Exactly New)
Now about that new head coach. Stephanie White, who Fever fans might remember from her first stint at the helm, is back in town. Indiana decided that after a “meh” run under Sides (let’s face it, a 33-47 record isn’t winning any Coach of the Year awards), White was the one to take them back to the promised land. White already has some history with Indiana—she coached them to the WNBA Finals in 2015, losing to the Minnesota Lynx (who were a juggernaut, so no shame there). But things went south in her second year, and White bailed for a college gig at Vanderbilt before Indiana’s last playoff run turned into a distant memory.
Fast forward to 2024, and she’s got a second chance to lead the Fever—and this time, she’s got Caitlin Clark, one of the biggest young stars in the game, at her disposal. Not too shabby, right?
Clark’s Emergence and the Stephanie White-Caitlin Clark Dynamic
Speaking of Clark, it’s clear that the Fever are now building around her, and White’s task is to manage the superstar’s sky-high expectations both on and off the court. Managing Clark’s burgeoning fame isn’t going to be easy—this is the same player who went viral on LinkedIn (yes, LinkedIn!) after securing a $600,000 payday for a marketing webinar. White is fully aware of the task in front of her. As she puts it, “Embrace it.” Because when you’ve got a star like Clark, there’s no use pretending the spotlight isn’t blinding. You just hope the glare doesn’t burn anyone out.
What’s Next for the Fever?
With White now steering the ship (again), the Indiana Fever are entering a make-or-break phase. They finally snapped a seven-year playoff drought under Sides, only to be eliminated in the first round—by none other than White’s Connecticut Sun. Oh, the irony. White may not have led the Sun to a championship, but she sure knows her way around a playoff run. Fever fans are hoping she can work that same magic in Indiana, but this time, they’d like it to end with a banner, please.
The Fever will undoubtedly be leaning heavily on Clark, who has a knack for the spectacular, while Wheeler will continue to serve as a spark off the bench—or at the very least, as the team’s official troll-slayer on social media. The real question, though, is whether White can turn this team into a true contender or if the Fever will remain stuck in the WNBA’s middle-class—always in the conversation, but never at the table.
One thing’s for sure: Whether it’s a fan meltdown on social media or a new coach in town, the Indiana Fever always know how to keep things interesting.