The Indiana Fever’s 2024–25 season has been defined by the brilliance of Caitlin Clark, the generational rookie who has not only transformed the franchise but also reshaped the WNBA’s national conversation.

From sold-out arenas to record-setting TV ratings, Clark has carried the spotlight with ease while delivering clutch performances that have kept the Fever competitive in a loaded league. Yet behind the scenes, a lingering question has hovered over the team: can Indiana win without her?

Former Fever head coach and respected analyst Stephanie White believes she has the answer, and in recent candid remarks, she laid out exactly how Indiana can thrive even when Clark is not on the floor.

White, who guided the Fever to the WNBA Finals in 2015 and later became one of the league’s most insightful voices on television, has watched Clark’s transition with both admiration and a coach’s critical eye. While acknowledging that Clark’s offensive gravity and court vision are unparalleled, White has been quick to highlight that no team can afford to rely solely on one player. The WNBA season is grueling, and whether through foul trouble, rest, or defensive schemes designed to neutralize her, there will inevitably be stretches where the Fever must find ways to win without their superstar. White’s analysis cuts to the heart of the matter: success without Clark depends not on trying to replicate what she does, but on leaning into the team’s collective identity.

The first pillar of White’s argument revolves around defense. She has consistently pointed out that Indiana’s pathway to becoming a playoff contender lies in creating a defensive identity that travels. Clark’s offensive fireworks often make headlines, but White argues that the Fever’s true ceiling will be unlocked if players like Aliyah Boston, NaLyssa Smith, and Erica Wheeler set the tone on the other end. Boston, the reigning Rookie of the Year, has already shown flashes of being one of the most dominant defensive bigs in the league. White insists that building around her ability to protect the paint and control the glass gives Indiana a foundation that can weather any scoring droughts when Clark sits.

Beyond defense, White believes the Fever’s offensive balance is the second key. Too often, Indiana’s offense has leaned heavily on Clark’s ability to create shots for herself and others. But White emphasizes that Boston is already one of the most efficient low-post scorers in the league and that Smith’s face-up game can stretch defenses. Developing consistent sets that run through the frontcourt not only eases the burden on Clark but ensures the Fever can generate offense in her absence. White has been especially vocal about the need for perimeter players like Kelsey Mitchell and Lexie Hull to seize more responsibility as shot-creators. Mitchell, in particular, has been a proven scorer for years, and White has argued that Indiana must treat her as a secondary star rather than a complementary piece if they are to compete without Clark.

White also addressed the psychological component. Teams that are over-reliant on one player often crumble when that star is unavailable, but White has stressed the importance of instilling confidence across the roster. In her coaching days, she emphasized that role players must view themselves not as insurance policies but as vital pieces of the puzzle. Translating that philosophy to the current Fever roster, White believes the coaching staff must empower players like Kristy Wallace, Victaria Saxton, and Grace Berger to embrace moments where they become initiators rather than deferring to Clark. Building that mindset ensures that when Clark is off the court, the Fever still have players who believe they can execute and win.

One of the more intriguing points White has raised is the importance of pace. Clark thrives in transition, but White believes Indiana must prove it can also control tempo in her absence. This means leveraging Boston’s ability to anchor half-court sets, slowing the game down, and grinding out possessions through execution. White noted that some of the most successful WNBA teams in history, from the Houston Comets dynasty to the more recent Seattle Storm, could win games in multiple ways. For Indiana, becoming multidimensional is the difference between being a playoff participant and a championship contender.

The cultural component is also central to White’s perspective. She has repeatedly praised Clark for how she has embraced her leadership role as a rookie, but White cautions that the team must cultivate a culture that is not dependent on her personality alone. Veterans like Wheeler and Mitchell have invaluable experience and must help set the tone in huddles, practices, and late-game moments. White argues that championship teams have multiple voices of leadership, and by diversifying where that comes from, the Fever can build resilience that carries them through stretches without their star.

Of course, much of White’s candor is rooted in her understanding of the challenges a franchise faces when trying to develop around a transcendent talent. Having once coached Tamika Catchings during her prime, White has firsthand experience with the delicate balance of maximizing a superstar while also ensuring the roster grows around her. She often reminds audiences that even Catchings, one of the greatest players in WNBA history, could not single-handedly carry Indiana to titles—it took the emergence of complementary stars and a defensive culture to elevate the team to the Finals. For White, the lesson is clear: Clark may be the spark, but the fire must be sustained by the entire roster.

Fans have reacted strongly to White’s insights. Some see her remarks as a refreshing reminder that the Fever are more than just “Clark’s team,” while others interpret her critique as a challenge for Indiana’s supporting cast to step up. Either way, White’s words have resonated because they speak to a universal truth in sports: no matter how brilliant one player is, championships are built on collective strength. Social media buzzed with debates over whether Boston should become the primary option when Clark sits, or whether Mitchell should be given more freedom as a go-to scorer. These conversations reflect exactly what White intended: a reframing of the Fever as a complete team rather than a one-woman show.

The Fever themselves seem to be leaning into that philosophy. Recent games have shown more diverse offensive sets, with Boston getting deeper touches in the post and Mitchell operating more freely on the perimeter. The coaching staff has also experimented with lineups that emphasize defense and rebounding, giving the team a chance to grind out wins in Clark’s limited minutes. Whether or not this evolution leads to immediate results, it represents a recognition that White’s blueprint may be the key to unlocking long-term success.

In the grand scheme of the WNBA, White’s candid comments are invaluable. She has long been one of the league’s most respected minds, and her ability to balance praise with constructive critique makes her voice uniquely powerful. By exposing the truth about how the Fever can win without Clark, she has not only challenged the team but also educated fans about the nuances of team-building. The narrative around Indiana is no longer just about Clark’s superstardom—it’s about whether the Fever can grow into the kind of resilient, multidimensional team that wins at the highest level.

As the season progresses, the Fever’s ability to follow White’s blueprint will be tested. There will be nights when Clark struggles, sits with foul trouble, or faces defenses designed to shut her down. On those nights, Indiana’s identity will be revealed. If they can defend, balance their offense, empower their role players, and diversify their leadership, they will prove White right—and they will prove they are more than just a team built around one transcendent rookie. If they cannot, they risk becoming overly dependent on Clark in a league too competitive to allow such predictability.

For now, Stephanie White’s analysis stands as both a warning and an opportunity. The Fever have the talent, the coaching, and the cultural foundation to thrive with or without Caitlin Clark. The question is whether they will seize it.