The Indiana Fever, a team that’s been trying to escape basketball purgatory for years, just might have hit the jackpot. Enter Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and new head coach Stephanie White—a combo that could very well turn the Fever’s future from meh to magnificent.
Fresh off her stint with the Connecticut Sun, White didn’t waste any time stirring the pot in her first press conference as Fever’s head coach. She went ahead and compared her two young stars—Clark and Boston—to none other than John Stockton and Karl Malone. Yep, those Stockton and Malone. The same duo that broke hearts in Utah for nearly two decades by racking up stats, mastering the pick-and-roll, and ultimately… running into Michael Jordan. Twice.
White didn’t hold back her admiration, though:
“You’ve got the bookends that you want to build around,” she said, beaming about her two WNBA All-Stars. “These two are the best.”
She went on to praise their chemistry, their evolution as teammates, and how they’ve already shown a knack for making everyone else on the court better. But then, just like a coach dreaming of championship banners, she dropped the big one—“There’s so much room for growth, when you think about a (John) Stockton and (Karl) Malone.”
Hold up. Did she just compare Clark and Boston to one of the most iconic NBA duos ever? Stockton, the ultimate assist king with 15,806 dimes (and who we’re pretty sure might’ve even gotten an assist while tying his shoes), and Malone, the bruising MVP who scored 36,928 points by running over anyone in his way? You bet she did.
A Trip Down Memory Lane: Stockton and Malone
Let’s talk numbers, because that’s what greats like Stockton and Malone are made of. Stockton, the Ironman of the NBA, played 1,504 regular season games—most of those without missing a single one for 17 years. Can you imagine today’s load-managed stars trying that? Good luck. Meanwhile, Malone, a two-time MVP and 14-time All-Star, was basically a human tank with a jump shot. His 36,928 points still rank third all-time, and his 14,968 rebounds remind us that maybe boxing out is an art form. Together, they ran the Jazz offense with surgical precision and gave Utah hope, only for those dreams to be repeatedly crushed by—you guessed it—MJ and the Bulls.
Now, here’s where the Fever come in: Stephanie White is clearly hoping that her Stockton-Malone redux has a bit more postseason success. After all, the Jazz might’ve made back-to-back NBA Finals appearances, but they still walked away with zero titles, leaving Stockton and Malone wondering what could’ve been. White’s got the blueprint, but she’ll be hoping Clark and Boston can avoid the same “so close, yet so far” heartbreak.
Will Clark and Boston Break the Fever’s Finals Funk?
Stephanie White isn’t a stranger to the Indiana Fever. She was actually there the last time they made it to the WNBA Finals. In fact, she led them there in 2015 as the head coach, only to run into the Minnesota Lynx, the WNBA’s version of the ‘90s Bulls, who crushed the Fever’s hopes in five games. The Fever haven’t seen much postseason action since.
But White’s back, and now she’s got a new dynamic duo to play with—Caitlin Clark, the offensive dynamo who can score from practically anywhere (seriously, half-court shots look routine for her), and Aliyah Boston, the reigning Rookie of the Year who’s already a force in the paint. It’s a pairing that could redefine the Fever’s future, if they don’t get hit by the injury bug or, you know, bump into another dynasty in the playoffs.
So, What’s Next for Indiana?
If White can work her magic, this Fever squad could be more than just an experiment. Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston, despite their tender years, have already shown they have the talent and drive to dominate the WNBA. Sure, calling them the next Stockton and Malone might feel a bit premature, but hey, White’s got to hype up her new gig somehow, right? And if that means putting a little pressure on her two stars to become one of the greatest duos in basketball history—so be it.
For Fever fans, this could be the start of something special. If nothing else, at least they’re not dealing with another year of mediocrity. The stock’s rising, and with White at the helm, maybe, just maybe, this team could be hoisting some hardware in the not-so-distant future. Or at least avoiding the kind of Finals heartbreak that haunted Stockton and Malone.
Either way, the Fever’s future is looking a lot more interesting—and with White’s bold comparisons, a whole lot more fun to watch.
