Stephanie White has a lot riding on this season. The biggest fanbase in the league is expecting nothing less than a title after taking the Aces to Game 5 in the semifinal with a mashed-up squad last year. In addition, there is no guarantee on whether they will be able to continue with this core beyond 2026 with the likes of Kelsey Mitchell and Sophie Cunningham on one-year deals. The pressure comes along with some extra psychological challenges. But White has revealed a thorough process in her camp to deal with them.
A few years ago, the fans were not the same. There wasn’t that same weight with just about 1,000 fans filling the Gainbridge Field House. They were barely telecasted nationally and there wasn’t much money invested in them. Things are much different in 2026 as the WNBA has grown exponentially and White has admitted the mental health concerns that come with this growth.
Advertisement
“It’s the nature of the beast. It’s how far we’ve come. We’re going to, as players and coaches, deal with things we haven’t had to before,” White told the media. “We have a sports performance coach, Dr. Jamie Rubin. She works with us and with the Pacers. She does a great job of being a resource and being available.”
Beyond just the pressure from the fans, the economical machine is bigger. Not just in the increased wages, but also in sponsorship revenue. This adds another layer of pressure for the players.
Research suggests that larger wages and financial awards increase players’ anxiety and coping skills. However, take that with a grain of salt, as it is research on male football players. Then there are all the injuries and the tough season they had last year. They soldiered through a season where most of their core suffered season-ending injuries, which adds another aspect to their thought process. Yet, the elephant in the room is sports betting and the adverse effects of that on players.
“We implement things pre-practice to help us be present and mentally find ways to minimize distraction. We talk about it. There are a lot of things going on with sports betting,” White said. There are a lot of unkind people on social media. There are a lot of things you have to deal with that come with the territory. We want to prepare and give as many resources as we can to our players.”
Advertisement
2024 saw a 108% increase in betting on just one platform for the WNBA. While there is a league-wide increase, it’s different for the Indiana Fever, who have Caitlin Clark. In 2025, When Clark played, there was a 40% increase in overall betting handle on HardRockBet from the league average.
Last year, it was only 13 games but they expect to have her for everygame this season. The abuse and hate on social media increase further when it’s money on the line. And it is something the players must manage. The team can’t afford that to seep into the performance. While White deals with the negative side of having thousands of fans, she has presented a clear challenge for the Fever base ahead of their second preseason game.
Stephanie White Presents Clear Challenge To Indiana Fever Fans Ahead Of Wings Game
Stephanie White and Co. brushed off New York Liberty in the first preseason game. Caitlin Clark returned to the court in a Fever jersey after 10 months, getting the fans excited and hyped. The first game of the season and a new era marked a special moment for the Fever. However, for the second game against the Wings they return home and White is expecting a grand welcome from their fans.
Advertisement
“Really looking forward to it, our fans are incredible,” White said. “We expect it to be a packed house, we expect it to be a great environment. It’s been a long time since last fall, the last time that we were able to play a game in our home arena. Really looking forward to playing at home and getting an opportunity. We have a lot of early home games too so it should be good for us.”
And it probably will be. If Caitlin Clark’s star power is not enough, she is facing Paige Bueckers and the 2026 No. 1 pick Azzi Fudd. They are three of the most popular players in the league. In addition, the Wings aren’t expected to be bottom dwellers anymore. They have revamped via free agency and this game is expected to be more competitive than it was last year.
The post “Lot Of Things They Deal With”: Stephanie White Addresses Mental Health Concerns Within Fever Locker Room appeared first on EssentiallySports. Add EssentiallySports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
