Stephanie White Purdue stats: Exploring Caitlin Clark’s new HC’s college career
After eight years, Stephanie White is set to take the reins of the Indiana Fever once again. The 2012 WNBA champions on Friday announced bringing White back as their new head coach after parting ways with Christie Sides last week.
Before the start of a lengthy coaching career, White played for the Purdue Boilermakers in college basketball from 1996 to 1999. She established herself as one of the program's greatest shooting guards, averaging over 10 points in each of the four seasons of her playing career.
White finished her freshman season averaging 10.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.0 steals in 31 appearances, marking her first appearance in the NCAA tournament. Although the Boilermakers missed out on March Madness in her sophomore season, she improved her scoring significantly, averaging 16.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 4.4 apg and 2.1 spg.
She posted her best scoring season at Purdue in her junior year, averaging 20.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 4.8 apg and 2.4 spg, helping the Boilermakers make the Elite Eight for the first time since 1995.
Stephanie White enjoyed her best season in college basketball in her senior year, leading the Boilermakers to the national championship in 1999, which remains their only title to date. That year, she averaged 20.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 4.5 apg and 2.2 spg, earning consensus First-Team All-American honors.
Looking at Stephanie White's WNBA career
White's incredible senior season saw her win several accolades, including the Wade Trophy, the Honda Sports Award and recognition as the National College Player of the Year. She was also named the Big Ten Player of the Year and the Women's Basketball Academic All-American of the Year that season.
White's exploits in her senior season at Purdue caught the attention of the Charlotte Sting, who selected her in the second round of the 1999 WNBA draft.
She then played for the Fever for five seasons.
On April 21, 2006, White was inducted into the Purdue Athletics Hall of Fame, signifying her impact on the university's women's basketball program.
After her playing career in the WNBA, Stephanie White pursued a coaching career, beginning as an assistant coach for the Ball State Cardinals in 2003.
She got an opportunity in the WNBA by becoming an assistant coach for the Chicago Sky in 2007. She became an assistant for the Fever in 2011 before taking over as head coach in 2015, helping the team reach the finals.
White's journey has seemingly come full circle with her return to the Fever, and she will be looking to make history with the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year, Caitlin Clark.