Stephanie White's Partner Lisa Salters Gets Status Update After Absence

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Spencer Ostrow | Last updated Jun 16, 2025 12:48 PM ET

Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White missed the team’s June 7 win over the Chicago Sky due to personal reasons. Assistant coach Austin Kelly stepped in her place and led the team to a 79-52 victory without Caitlin Clark in the lineup.

While White was only out for one game, her partner, Lisa Salters, has been absent for several of her own. Salters, who works for ESPN, had the honor of serving as a sideline reporter for the 2025 NBA Finals.

She was present in Oklahoma City for Game 1 between the Thunder and the Indiana Pacers but was unable to work Games 2, 3, and 4 due to what ESPN described as a "personal matter."

With Game 5 on Monday back in Oklahoma City, Salters is ready to rejoin ESPN's broadcasting crew consisting of Mike Breen (play-by-play), Doris Burke and Richard Jefferson (analysts). According to Jon Lewis of Sports Media Watch, "Lisa Salters is back tonight for Game 5."

This is great news for both Salters and White, as they’ve been able to return to the sport they love after some tough times. Meanwhile, ABC/ESPN play-by-play announcer Mike Breen revealed that Salters' absence was due to a serious health issue with her mother.

"We are thinking of our dear friend and colleague, Lisa Salters. Lisa's mom has been dealing with some serious health issues for a while now, so we want to send our love to Lisa and her mom," Breen said during the Thunder's Game 2 win over the visiting Pacers in Oklahoma City.

It’s unclear if White and Salters were each out for the same reason, but considering they’ve been in a romantic relationship since at least 2016, it’s highly likely they were.

While White now lives in Indiana during the WNBA season, she and Salters share a home in Nashville during the offseason. White has three children from a previous marriage, and she and Salters raise them together, along with Salters’ adopted son.

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

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