On the occasion when her Iowa jersey got retired, Indiana Fever's star player Caitlin Clark had some words to say about the head coach of the Indiana franchise Stephanie White. Conveying her gratification, Caitlin heaped massive praise on White.
Caitlin Clark On Indiana Fever's New Coach Stephanie White
Clark was present at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday as she watched the Hawkeyes secure a convincing 76-69 victory over the USC. Before the contest, Clark's collegiate legacy was celebrated. With a record 3951 points, she left Iowa last year as the all-time NCAA points leader. Subsequently, she was selected first overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
The women's basketball sensation reached the final on two occasions but both times ended up on the losing side. Once to LSU and the second time against South Carolina. Despite the inability to cross the final hurdle, Clark's stature within the Hawkeyes is unparalleled. On the special occasion, she showcased her respect towards the new Fever coach, who was in attendance rooting for the Indiana Guard.
"Honestly, I couldn't imagine getting drafted to a better franchise," Clark said when reflecting on life after Iowa. "A place that, just like Iowa, invests in women's sports and has allowed me to thrive. Just really lucky and fortunate to be there, so hopefully, year two is even better than year one [with the Fever], and I know it will be.
"We've got some good players, we've got a good coach ... Thanks for being here [Steph]," Clark said. White is yet to properly start working with Clark and the Fever, after replacing Christie Sides at the end of the 2024 season.
White Showers Praise on Clark
Despite that, White might be accustomed to what Clark brings to the table and would expect the WNBA Rookie of the Year to keep progressing after a breakthrough year.
"It's been great. She's a hard worker, she's a perfectionist," White said when asked about her initial impression of Clark.
"She wants to be great and when you have somebody who's willing to put in the work, somebody who's willing to be coached, somebody who wants to be great, the sky's the limit, and we've enjoyed working with her. She's going to continue to get better and continue to grow."