Purdue legend Stephanie White led the Boilermakers to their first National Championship in women’s basketball in 1999. She won multiple Big Ten accolades, including the Conference’s Player of the Year and Tournament Most Oustanding Player awards.
Now, she returns to Indiana.
The Indiana Fever announced that White will be their new head coach. After the Fever recently parted ways with Christie Sides, they moved to bring the former Fever star back to Indy.
we have named Stephanie White as our next head coach.
welcome home, @StephanieWhite!
📝 https://t.co/77Th6d6PoH pic.twitter.com/V3C5wSwKfN
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) November 1, 2024
The Purdue program welcomed the legendary White back to the state with a post on X.
Welcome back to the state, 🐐 https://t.co/Setm21ZXbh pic.twitter.com/xEqmtLp4o3
— Purdue Women’s Basketball (@PurdueWBB) November 1, 2024
White has a case to be one of the best basketball players to ever play in Indiana. She’s got plenty of pedigree, and if the news of her hire was any indication, the fans are also excited about it.
Of course, White will be coaching superstar Caitlin Clark in Indiana. Clark, along with Aliyah Boston, helped lead the Fever on a torrid run in the second half of last season. It wasn’t enough for Sides to maintain her position. But what’s done and is done, and this move might help the team take the next step forward.
The sports world reacted to the news.
stephanie white ran towards the pressure and spotlight. gotta respect it. welcome home, coach.
— whitney medworth (@its_whitney) November 1, 2024
Stephanie White is homegrown.
🏠 Indiana Miss Basketball at Seeger High School in West Lebanon, IN
🚂 Brought @PurdueWBB their first-ever National Championship
🏆 Assistant Coach for our first @WNBA championshipThere is no one better to lead us into our next era of Fever… pic.twitter.com/ijK5ymdcYo
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) November 1, 2024
22 🤝 22
Stephanie White returns to Indiana as its new head coach, league sources told @alexaphilippou. pic.twitter.com/2Nh9XZFrtF
— espnW (@espnW) November 1, 2024
Dijonai: “…nastiest fans in the W.”
Stephanie White: “ Greatest basketball fans in the world.”
The script is amazing. We just took your coach. We’re coming. #Wnba #FeverRising pic.twitter.com/6kLb2Hepnf
— Michael Ramsford (@Ramsfordmaster) November 1, 2024
