Stephanie White highlights Pacers’ overcoming adversity amid historic NBA Finals run as inspiration for guiding Caitlin Clark & Co

In her return to the Indiana Fever, Stephanie White is tasked with keeping Caitlin Clark and the franchise on an upward trajectory. As she navigates this new journey of her coaching career, she reflected on drawing inspiration from a nearby source.

At the moment, Indiana basketball fans have a lot to be excited about. Not only are the Fever slowly climbing the ranks in the WNBA, but the Pacers are shocking the NBA world. After pulling off multiple upsets in the postseason, the franchise is back in the finals for the first time in 25 years.

During a recent interview with Front Office Sports, White praised what the Pacers have been able to accomplish this season. As the Fever navigate the 2025 season, their NBA counterparts can be a source of inspiration.

“The way that they’ve built and rebuilt with the roster, the patience that they’ve shown in the roster and in roster movement, the adversity that they faced early in the year,” White said."

Expand Tweet

Overcoming adversity is something the Fever themselves have had to deal with to start the regular season. After coming out of the gates in dominant fashion, Caitlin Clark suffered a quad injury that nearly left her sidelined for a month. White was then tasked with keeping with keeping the group engaged as they tried to compete without the services of their top star.

Now that Caitlin Clark is back in the mix, White has her full roster at her disposal again as she looks to help elevate Indiana to contender status.

About the author

Kevin McCormick is a basketball writer at Sportskeeda with over four years of experience in journalism and a bachelor's degree in Sports Management Marketing from Holy Family University.

Kevin has worked with various notable outlets throughout his career, including 97.3 ESPN, ClutchPoints, Heavy Sports, and Sports Illustrated/FanNation, before joining Sportskeeda in March 2022.

Specializing in NBA and WNBA coverage, Kevin's passion for basketball stems from his hometown team, the Philadelphia 76ers. Among his favorite players are Kevin Durant, Chet Holmgren, and Steph Curry, while his all-time favorites include Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.

Kevin holds Coach K in high regard for the large input he's had on the game helping mold players across multiple generations. Kevin believes the iconic rivalry between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson helped elevate the league to its current status.

Through his writing, Kevin provides in-depth analysis and insights into player and coach quotes. He prioritizes sourcing information from credible and reliable outlets.

Kevin enjoys reading, aiming to finish at least one book per month, and he is a big fan of music.

Know More

Edited by Kevin McCormick