The Indiana Fever fired general manager Amber Cox and saw team president Kelly Krauskopf step away from her role on Friday, signaling a massive shift for the WNBA franchise.
The opportunity to build a roster for superstars like Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston (and maybe Kelsey Mitchell if she re-signs with the franchise) gives Indiana two of the biggest personnel openings in the WNBA in a good while. Whoever takes over will have an incredibly tall task to build a contender already anchored by two elite players (or three, again, if Mitchel stays for the future). What about the coaching staff? Will they stay for 2027?
Well, multiple reports suggested on Friday that Stephanie White is expected to return for next season, but that could always change if the new president and general manager decide they want their own coach.
White has been very successful in her two-season Indiana return, getting close to taking an injury-plagued roster to the 2025 WNBA Finals. However, her 2026 featured a much healthier roster but diminished overall results, even as Clark and Mitchell formed the best backcourt in the WNBA. The team's overall consistency, defense and depth all got tested aplenty, which created an earned first-round exit to the Las Vegas Aces.
If the new Fever brain trust wants a different direction, White could be let go for a new hire once new leadership is in place. If the new regime wants White back, she will most assuredly be back. Input from Clark and Boston will likely be taken into account by a new front office as to whether or not White gets the opportunity to return to Indiana.
White is a franchise legend and a very good head coach. She would be in high demand as a head coach if she were to leave the Fever. However, it's most likely going to be up to the new front office (and, to a greater extent than you might expect, Clark and Boston) as to whether or not White stays around as the head coach.
When will we know?
The Fever will have to hire a new team president and general manager to come together on a coaching decision. While White may well indeed be back next year, that decision won't be concrete until new leadership is hired.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Why Stephanie White might not return as Fever head coach in 2027