Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White went on Sue Bird’s podcast, Bird’s Eye View, and shared her thoughts on star Caitlin Clark:
Stephanie White on what Caitlin Clark has to deal with
“She doesn’t have any space,” White said of the outside influences and interest in everything Clark does. “She can’t just be her. She’s still a 23-year-old kid trying to find her way.
“With Caitlin, you know she’s hard working because of what she’s been able to accomplish but until you see it … there’s no wasted movements, no wasted reps, no wasted anything. You have such a level of respect for how she goes about her work every day, and understanding the spotlight she’s on and the weight she carries. She’s literally Taylor Swift 2.0. Somehow, she’s able to compartmentalize, come to the gym and get what she needs to get done. (She has an) elite mind.”
Stephanie White on her relationship with Caitlin Clark
“I had a little relationship with Caitlin from calling her games in college,” White said of her work as a broadcaster. “She’s obviously the centerpiece of everything we do. Most important for me was connecting and building trust. I don’t know how she does what she does and handles it so gracefully. I’m not sure myself, as a 23-year-old, would be able to handle it the way she does and still perform at an elite level.
“You have to coach and challenge your best players and for me to do that, I needed to earn her trust. I’m the same kind of psycho she is in terms of competiveness. It comes out in different ways but we both just really want to win and set our teammates up for success.”
Listen to the full podcast for more from White on needing a combine, not watching Game 5 of the WNBA semifinals and more on Kelsey Mitchell and the Fever.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Fever coach Stephanie White on Caitlin Clark: ‘I’m the same kind of psycho’
Reporting by Nat Newell, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
