Seeing the meteoric rise of Caitlin Clark’s movie star on and off the court docket has new Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White seeing just one comparability.
“She’s very a lot Taylor Swift 2.0,” White instructed The Athletic throughout a Q&A interview.
Clark’s fame from her days at Iowa, the place she turned the NCAA’s all-time main Division I scorer for each women and men, solely rose this previous season after she was chosen No. 1 general by the Fever.
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The Indiana Fever welcome Stephanie White as their new head coach Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, throughout a press convention held on Salesforce Court docket at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (IMAGN)
Clark went on to win Rookie of the Yr, whereas additionally making the WNBA All-Star workforce. And he or she broke quite a few rookie and league data on the way in which to in the end being named TIME’s Athlete of the Yr.
With heightened fame, Clark has confronted criticism on and off the court docket, and each motion is of course dissected by these trying on.
So, Clark’s skill to handle that fast rise in fame whereas nonetheless being devoted to her craft is the explanation why White can’t assist however evaluate her to the world’s greatest pop star.
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“I believe at the beginning, she does an impressive job of managing all of it,” White defined to The Athletic. “Like, she’s extremely humble. She understands the large image. So, she views it understanding her movie star, No. 1. However No. 2, she’s a Midwest child, a Midwest individual, and she or he is who she is. She tries to reside her life in an genuine method. However she’s very a lot Taylor Swift 2.0.”
White, who was employed in November 2024 after Christie Sides was relieved of her duties, stated it’s as much as her and her employees to “defend her” as that movie star standing continues to develop.
“So, I believe from my perspective, and from our employees and franchise, it’s how will we assist her navigate all of this? How will we assist her defend her peace? As a result of it may be lots. How can we be a useful resource for her? It’s a unique stage now with social media and fan engagement. We need to be a useful resource and assist defend her.”
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) performs towards the Dallas Wings within the second half of a WNBA basketball recreation in Indianapolis, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Picture/Michael Conroy, File)
It feels proper White in contrast Clark to Swift contemplating their connection that has already been seen in public. Clark and Swift had been noticed watching a Kansas Metropolis Chiefs playoff recreation final month, sitting subsequent to one another in a set at Arrowhead Stadium.
Additionally, Clark was noticed at Swift’s Eras Tour on a number of stops this previous 12 months, as she is a giant fan of her music.
Like Swift, Clark is actually hoping to proceed making an affect in her subject by the 12 months, and White touched on the offseason work that exhibits her a “stronger” level guard on her roster.
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“She’s acquired numerous self-awareness,” White stated of Clark. “She found out immediately that ‘I must get stronger. I can’t get knocked round as a lot.’ She’s completed a terrific job of getting within the weight room and specializing in her energy, by way of low heart of gravity, time below pressure, all of these issues. I believe the following step is effectivity. Not so many turnovers, increased subject objective percentages.”
The Fever have additionally been proactive in getting some extra expertise round Clark and Aliyah Boston, most notably including two-time WNBA champion and six-time All-Star ahead DeWanna Bonner. Natasha Howard, a three-time champion and two-time All-Star, may also be on the roster for 2025.
New Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White compares Caitlin Clark to Taylor Swift. (IMAGN)
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So, expectations are naturally raised with a greater beginning 5 on the ground for Indiana. White understands that, and likewise is aware of ensuring Clark could be her regular self on the ground — not frightened in regards to the exterior noise and the movie star standing — will hopefully lead the Fever to their championship objectives.
“From a training perspective, hold the primary factor the primary factor,” she stated about Clark. “Assist her defend her peace after which assist her proceed to develop on the basketball court docket. We let our gamers know typically you gotta decrease the noise round you and give attention to what our job is. Our job is to place one of the best workforce and one of the best product on the ground that we’re able to doing.”
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