Stephanie White is done watching her team get pushed around.
After the Indiana Fever’s worst offensive performance in seven years, the head coach made headlines by proposing an extreme way to toughen up her roster, especially in the absence of superstar Caitlin Clark.
Following the Fever’s 77-58 road loss to the Atlanta Dream, Stephanie White didn’t hold back.
“We’ve got to get the guys we practice against to continue to beat the (expletive) out of us,” she said in her postgame press conference. “Be physical and make things difficult for us, and we’ve got to be able to handle that.”
Fever Struggles Without Caitlin Clark
Tuesday’s loss marked the fifth straight game Clark has missed due to a left quad injury. Without her playmaking and scoring, Indiana has looked lost on both ends. The team scored its lowest point total since 2017, got outrebounded 44-27, and was dominated in the paint by Atlanta’s physical frontcourt.
The Dream’s 46-28 paint scoring advantage and relentless rebounding exposed the Fever’s lack of toughness. A weakness Stephanie White wants to fix through more intense practice sessions using male players to simulate WNBA-level contact.
Fever Physical Practices Incoming?
The Fever, like many WNBA teams, use male practice players to challenge their roster in scrimmages. White now wants those matchups to get even rougher to build resilience.
While some interpreted White’s comments as subtle frustration with officiating, the numbers tell a different story. Atlanta was actually whistled for six more fouls than Indiana (22-16). Proving physicality alone didn’t earn them the win, they just played tougher.
Clark’s Return Looms—But Practice May Get Brutal
Clark, who once went viral for dominating male practice players at Iowa, is still “ramping back up” and could return Saturday against the Liberty. But until then, her teammates may be in for a rough week of practices. With Stephanie White making it clear that physical adversity is the only way forward.
If Clark returns soon, she might not just save the Fever’s offense. She could spare her teammates from getting bruised by the practice squad.
Read More: Caitlin Clark Snubs Chicago Sky Fan in Hilarious Autograph Moment
