Sun Jun 22 07:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Fever Rely on Continuity and Defense Amid Grueling Road Trip as Coach White Steps Away
**SAN FRANCISCO** – The Indiana Fever are navigating a demanding five-game stretch without head coach Stephanie White, who is tending to a personal matter. Assistant coach Austin Kelly has stepped in as interim head coach, emphasizing continuity and defensive focus as the team faces a challenging West Coast swing.
Kelly, a long-time coaching partner of White’s, previously filled in for her earlier this month. He stressed that the team’s core message remains the same: prioritize defense and play for each other.
“It’s going to be the same,” Kelly said. “The message is still the same that we talk about in the locker room: playing for each other, getting it done on the defensive end and then having that help fuel us on the offensive end.”
White’s first year with the Fever has been a success, leading the team to a 6-5 start and a Commissioner’s Cup final appearance. Her guidance has been instrumental in the development of young stars like Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston.
However, her absence comes during a particularly strenuous part of the schedule. The Fever suffered an 88-77 loss to the expansion Golden State Valkyries Thursday night and now face a back-to-back series against the Los Angeles Sparks, followed by a trip to Dallas to play the Wings.
Kelly acknowledges the need to manage player workload during this busy stretch. “We’re just trying to manage everything within the game,” Kelly explained. “It’s about us taking care of business on the floor, first and foremost, and looking for opportunities throughout the game to manage those minutes.”
Kelly plans to utilize deeper rotations and prioritize player recovery to ensure the team’s long-term health and success during White’s absence. The Fever will rely on their established principles of strong defense and teamwork to weather this demanding period.
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