'What she said made no sense': Elle Duncan called out by WNBA fans for predicting Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever slowdown after Christie Sides' firing

The Indiana Fever made some strides last season by making the WNBA Playoffs for the first time since 2016. Despite finding some measure of success, head coach Christie Sides was fired and replaced with Stephanie White. While the league is yet to see how this will affect the Fever, ESPN's Elle Duncan already has a prediction.

In a clip of "The Elle Duncan Show" posted on X on Thursday, Duncan believes that this abrupt change will be detrimental to the team. According to her, Caitlin Clark and the young Fever core's development could suffer from this sudden change.

Several WNBA fans did not seem to agree with Duncan's insight regarding to Fever's decision.

"What she said made no sense," one fan said.

"I respectfully disagree with her take that their growth will be stalled," another person said.

"I like Elle, but that's nonsense. Christie got better as things went, but progress will accelerate with White. Quickly." Another person tweeted.

A few fans who disagreed with Duncan took pointed shots at her as an analyst.

"How can someone who is paid to cover this league know so little about it?," one fan said.

"Elle Duncan's takes are either clueless or dishonest. I don't understand why she has a job," another added.

On the other hand, some WNBA fans agreed with Duncan, with one noting that Stephanie White might not adjust to Caitlin Clark as Sides did.

"This is very true.. She had a coach who gave her the keys & adjusted to her… idk if the new coach will do that," one fan said.

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Stephanie White has never missed the playoffs as a head coach in the WNBA

Stephanie White has only been a WNBA head coach for a total of four seasons but she has found some measure of success in each one.

White's first stint as a head coach began with the Indiana Fever in 2015. She was an assistant under Lin Dunn from 2011-2014 and later stepped into Dunn's role after she retired.

In her first season as the head coach, the Fever finished the season with a 20-14 record. She led them all the way to the Finals with superstar Tamika Catchings leading the team. In the Finals, the Fever ran into the Cheryl Reeve-coached Minnesota Lynx squad.

The Lynx beat the Fever in five games with Maya Moore leading them on the court.

In 2016, White accepted a job to coach Vanderbilt's women's team. However, she finished the season with the Fever. That year, the Fever finished with a 17-17 record. They lost to Diana Taurasi and the Phoenix Mercury in the first round of the playoffs.

After seven years away from coaching professional basketball, White returned as the coach of the Connecticut Sun (2023). In her first year back, she coached the Sun to a 27-13 record and led them to the semifinals. They faced the New York Liberty, who would end up beating them 3-1.

This past season, the Sun improved their regular season record by one win. They eliminated the Indiana Fever in the first round. In the semifinal, White ran into a familiar foe in Reeves and the Lynx.

Reeves would prevail over White once again to lead the Lynx to another WNBA Finals trip.