Stephanie White Makes Telling Comment on Indiana Fever Injuries

Before she was one of the better known coaches in the WNBA, Stephanie White was a versatile wing playing in the third season of the league's existence, as a rookie out of Purdue back in 1999. She was a member of the inaugural Fever team, getting a chance to play for the team that would represent her home state.

She has seen the WNBA over its many interations in the last three decades. And White has known just how bad things can get when it comes to injuries--she missed all of the 2002 season with surgeries to her ankle and knee, injuries that likely ended her WNBA career at age 27.

Now, as a coach, she is witnessing a rash of injuries with the Indiana Fever that might well have no precedence in the league. At least, from White's perspective, there is no precedence--what the Fever have gone through is unmatched in league history.

"Everybody in this league undergoes injuries at some point. I’ve never, in my 25 years in this league, seen all of this at once," White said on Tuesday night before Indiana played Phoenix.

What Injuries Have Hit the Indiana Fever This Season?

Indeed, the Fever have dealt with the most high-profile injury in the sport this season, as Caitlin Clark has hurt her quad and groin, injuries that have kept her out for all but 13 games this season. To make matters worse, the team lost both of its backup point guards, with veteran Sydney Colson (ACL) and in-season signee Aari McDonald (broken bone in her foot) suffering season-ending injuries.

Throw in a season-ending injury to wing Sophie Cunningham, and the Fever have an ugly litany of health issues.

Still, they have managed to hang in the playoff race in the WNBA and entered the Tuesday game against Phoenix with a 21-19 record, clinging to a playoff spot in the league. White was very complimentary of her club for its ability to show that resilience.

"I think first and foremost, when you have great people, when you have great people who are selfless and who really put the team first, I think it is easy to root for one another, it is easy to encourage one another when it has to be that quote-unquote next player up mentality," she said. "They have weathered storms. They’re not a group that disperses when things are challenging. They come together. I think that that’s an advantage, No. 1. Just because of the nature of who they are."