Indiana Fever Head Coach Stephanie White to Miss Game at Golden State Valkyries, Assistant Austin Kelly Will Step In

Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White will not be on the sidelines for Thursday night’s game against the Golden State Valkyries due to personal reasons, per ESPN’s Kendra Andrews. Assistant coach Austin Kelly will serve as the acting head coach for the contest, marking a significant moment in his rising coaching career and a test for a Fever squad looking to find consistency amidst a roller-coaster start to the WNBA season.

White, who has been instrumental in developing the Fever’s young core led by rookie sensation Caitlin Clark, is temporarily stepping away at a crucial juncture. The Fever are in the middle of a challenging West Coast swing and have recently shown signs of cohesion and competitive spirit following a rocky season start. While her absence is expected to be brief, it introduces a new dynamic to a team still trying to find its identity.

Stephanie White’s return to the WNBA coaching ranks this season was met with optimism, particularly after her successful collegiate coaching stint at Vanderbilt and previous WNBA experience with the Indiana Fever from 2014 to 2016. Known for her calm leadership, X’s and O’s mastery, and player development acumen, White has already made visible strides in reshaping Indiana’s culture. Her players regularly speak to her authenticity, attention to detail, and ability to inspire confidence. The Fever, while still under .500, have shown flashes of what could be a playoff-worthy team in the near future.

Thursday’s matchup against the expansion Golden State Valkyries poses its own challenges. The Valkyries, coached by WNBA legend Sue Bird and loaded with hungry young talent and seasoned veterans, have quickly established themselves as one of the league’s most disciplined and defensively sound teams. Their home court, the Chase Center in San Francisco, has become a fortress, energizing a passionate new fan base that’s helping push women’s basketball to new heights on the West Coast.

That’s the stage upon which Austin Kelly will now be thrust.

Kelly, a longtime assistant under White with experience in both professional and collegiate ranks, is respected for his scouting abilities, offensive coordination, and cool demeanor under pressure. Though Thursday marks his first game as acting head coach in the WNBA, Kelly has long been considered one of the top up-and-coming minds in the sport. Those familiar with the Fever’s coaching dynamics know Kelly has had increasing responsibility during games, especially in managing the bench and coordinating out-of-timeout plays.

Players like Aliyah Boston, NaLyssa Smith, and Clark will now lean even more heavily on Kelly’s voice and leadership. That trust has already been established behind the scenes, but this game offers a chance for it to manifest publicly. Boston and Smith, in particular, will need to anchor the Fever defensively and on the boards, while Clark’s playmaking and floor vision must continue to set the tempo and open up quality shots for the rest of the team.

One key to Thursday’s contest will be Indiana’s ability to handle Golden State’s pressure defense, which has been especially effective against perimeter-heavy offenses. The Valkyries are known for their traps, aggressive closeouts, and transition scoring. Kelly’s task will be ensuring the Fever don’t turn the ball over excessively and that Clark gets enough clean looks to rediscover her rhythm after a rare cold shooting night earlier this week.

Kelly will also need to monitor player minutes and manage in-game momentum swings—areas where a head coach’s touch can make a difference. He’ll be supported by the rest of the Fever’s coaching staff, including veteran assistant Jessie Miller and player development coach Amber Stocks, both of whom bring deep WNBA experience and institutional knowledge to the bench.

While no timeline has been publicly shared for White’s return, sources close to the team expect her absence to be short-term. There’s no indication of any long-term health issue or organizational disruption—this appears to be a case of a head coach taking necessary personal time, something more common (and more accepted) in today’s pro sports environment.

The WNBA, with its increasingly demanding travel schedule and growing media attention, has amplified the pressures on head coaches. White, who has always been open about the importance of mental wellness and work-life balance, has advocated in the past for more holistic support for players and staff. Her stepping away, even briefly, reflects not weakness but strength—an example to those in the league and outside it that sometimes stepping back is what keeps you moving forward.

For the Fever, this game represents more than just a stop on a road trip. It’s an opportunity to show resilience, growth, and trust in the team’s structure. It’s a chance to see how adaptable they are without their top voice on the bench. And for Kelly, it’s a proving ground—a national stage on which he can showcase his readiness for head coaching responsibilities in the future.

Players have already expressed confidence in Kelly. During recent media sessions, Clark mentioned the value of “hearing multiple voices” in her development, and Aliyah Boston credited Kelly for his detailed scouting reports and calm teaching style. That backing could be critical as the Fever aim to make noise in what is shaping up to be a wildly competitive league season.

The game itself could have playoff implications down the line, especially given how tight the standings are between teams ranked fourth through ninth. Every win—or loss—matters more when tiebreakers and point differentials come into play in August. A win against a team like the Valkyries, especially on the road, would be a statement of the Fever’s grit and their rising maturity.

As the league continues to grow in stature, with attendance numbers rising and broadcast ratings spiking thanks to the arrival of star rookies and returning legends, moments like this matter more. Who steps up when the head coach is away? Can the locker room unify under pressure? How do young teams like Indiana handle temporary adversity?

Thursday night will begin to answer those questions. And while Stephanie White may not physically be on the sideline, her fingerprints—on the system, the players, and the staff—will be all over how this team performs.

Austin Kelly will have the clipboard, the title, and the responsibility. But he’ll also have a team that believes in the path White laid down and is ready to take the next step, together. Whether it results in a win or a loss, Thursday will provide insight into how well the Indiana Fever can adjust, grow, and sustain belief in their mission—even when their head coach takes a moment away.