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Stephanie White Makes Blunt Statement on Caitlin Clark's Fever Cast

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sean Deveney | Last updated Jun 12, 2025 8:47 PM ET

It's been nearly three weeks since the Indiana Fever have had Caitlin Clark (quad injury) on the floor for the team, and the five games they've played without her have been revealing, if unsatisfying. The Fever were awful in their first two Clark-less games, falling to opponents--the Mystics and Sun--they probably should have beaten. But then came two convincing wins over the Mystics and Sky and it appeared that the Fever had adjusted to life without Clark.

That was followed, though, by a 19-point humbling at the hands of the Dream on Tuesday, and it is fair now to wonder what, exactly, can be made of this Fever roster that's been built around Clark.

Aliyah Boston has been as good as advertised, though the team struggles to find her for shots when Clark is not playing. Kelsey Mitchell has been good, but inefficient. Lexie Hull has been an excellent role player, as usual.

But those are all holdover from last season. The rest of the Fever? Meh.

In fairness, forward natasha Howrd has been solid in her return to Indiana. But Sophie Cunningham has been out with an ankle injury. DeWanna Bonner, the do-it-all veteran, has been a very difficult fit with the Fever. Veteran Sydney Colson was given a bigger role in the absence of Clark but showed she was not quite ready for that.

Maybe the best acquisition the Fever made to this team is the player who has not played with Clark--guard Aari McDonald, a hardship signee brought in to replace Clark and Cunningham. The Fever could lost McDonald when everyone is healthy.

Despite all that, coach Stephanie White made a pretty bold proclamation about Clark in an ESPN story on Thursday. She said this is the best team Clark has ever played with.

"Caitlin's a player that right now has the most talent around her that she's ever had," White said. "Our job as coaches is how we figure out how to put us in position to be the best team that we can be."

We're only one-fifth of the way through the WNBA season, of course. There's time. But the early returns on the talent around Clark remains spotty. There are players, and accomplishments and names. But the group has not yet gelled into a team.

That could begin changing as soon as Saturday, though, if Clark returns against the defending-champion Liberty.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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