Indiana Fever’s Stephanie White to take leave as Mike Kelly to serve as coach

Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White is set to miss her second game of the season due to personal reasons as her team prepares to face the Golden State Valkyries. The Fever, currently holding a record of 6-5, announced that White would be attending to a personal matter, leading to assistant coach Austin Kelly stepping in as the acting head coach for this match. This situation marks a significant moment for the Fever, particularly as they are competing against the expansion franchise, the Golden State Valkyries, who have a record of 5-6. Kelly previously took on head coaching duties in a game on June 7, where the Fever achieved a decisive victory over the Chicago Sky, winning 79-52. White's absence has raised questions about the team's dynamics, but Kelly expressed confidence in maintaining the same coaching philosophy during his temporary leadership.

In his remarks following Thursday's shootaround, Kelly emphasized the continuity of the team's message and approach on the court. He stated, "It’s going to be the same," highlighting the shared understanding and strategies between him and White. Kelly reiterated the importance of teamwork, focusing on defense, and allowing that to fuel their offensive performance. This season marks White's return as head coach of the Fever, having previously led the team from 2015 to 2016 before moving on to coach the Connecticut Sun for the past two seasons. Her current absence, due to personal matters, underscores the challenges coaches often face balancing personal issues with professional responsibilities in the competitive landscape of women's basketball.