Indiana Fever, Caitlin Clark / Joe Buglewicz/GettyImages

The Indiana Fever want to leap into title contention in 2025. Caitlin Clark proved to be a transcendent star, and the franchise is all-in on building around her. They already overhauled their front office and hired a new head coach. Stephanie White just led the Connecticut Sun to back-to-back WNBA Semifinals and is already viewing the Fever’s stars as a historically great duo.

Indiana has work to do. They must re-sign Kelsey Mitchell in free agency and upgrade their roster. The Fever snapped their playoff drought in 2024, but just making the postseason would be disappointing in the season ahead. Indiana wants to win a championship and needs more talent to seriously be in the mix.

The Fever must drastically improve on defense in 2025. They were 11th of 12 teams in defensive rating and every WNBA semifinalist was in the top five. Defense wins championships, and coach White plans to make it a focus.

Stephanie White promises defensive improvements for Caitlin Clark and the Fever

Coach White joined the Wake Up Call on 107.5 the Fan in Indiana to discuss all things Fever and had this to say when asked how she plans on improving the team’s defense.

“I think first and foremost, we lay the level of expectation. You are going to be expected to defend if you want to be on the floor. It is not about being an elite 1-on-1 defender. It is about being a great defensive team.”

The Sun had the best defensive rating in the W last season and were second in 2023. White knows how to build an elite defense and must get more from every player on the Fever. She mentioned ball pressure, completing assignments in multiple coverages, and effort as areas of focus. White wants to force other teams into difficult shots, and it will be a needed emphasis in Indiana.

White credited the team’s basketball IQ and believes she will have no issues implementing a defensive identity. The Fever were lacking on the defensive end in 2024, but it is not a personnel issue. Lexie Hull, Caitlin Clark, and Aliyah Boston can be average to above defenders in the right system. It is on coach White to figure things out and get them to offer more on this end of the floor.

The Fever must improve on defense to win a championship. Since 2010, every WNBA champion has finished the regular season sixth or better in defensive rating. Indiana does not need to be the best team, but above average is the bar to winning it all. Caitlin Clark will drive an elite offense. The Fever need the D to make the next leap.

Stephanie White preaching defense should be exactly what the Indiana Fever and their fans want to hear. She coached the franchise to the WNBA Finals in 2015 with the fifth-best defensive rating. White knows how to maximize her talent and win in Indiana. Fever fans should be excited about what is to come.