In 2025, the Indiana Fever showed they could get through tough times by making it to the semifinals even though their best players were injured. But Coach Stephanie White is taking a very different approach as they get ready for 2026.

On the first day of 2026 training camp, when Tony East shared a clip on X asking about managing Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell after their injury-hit 2025 season, coach Stephanie White stressed a cautious approach for the 44-game schedule.

“I think the biggest thing is just making sure that we're mindful of this day one. She doesn't have to be out there every rep, just being mindful of reps,” coach Stephanie White said.

“It’s not like she has to go out there and go through everything. I think with her, Kelsey [Mitchell], with AB [Aliyah Boston], just being mindful of getting them in and out, and we need to get other people integrated anyway, so I think it will give us a good opportunity to do that,” she added.

And Caitlin Clark seems to have taken that advice seriously as she stayed active in the offseason with broadcasting, sports photography, and Team USA play, and now says she’s fully healthy and entering camp with no restrictions following her left leg injury.

Clark only played in 13 games last season, which was White's first season with the Fever.

“I’ve been playing pickup, playing live all the time. Eventually, skill workouts get a little boring, so you just want to play and play and play,” CC updated recently.

“I’m the person that doesn’t want to miss a rep, I want to be out there every single time,” CC further added.

With Caitlin Clark’s workload plan in place, attention now turns to how Kelsey Mitchell will be managed moving forward.

Stephanie White Reveals Plan for Kelsey Mitchell’s Minutes

In the same interview, when asked if there would be a different approach with Kelsey Mitchell after she felt overused late last season, head coach Stephanie White shared her honest take.

"Yeah, I mean, numbers matter. Certainly, having depth, and hopefully, we can keep our depth. In a perfect world, she's not playing that many minutes," she revealed.

Her concern is understandable. Last season, Kelsey Mitchell pushed herself to the limit, and in Game 5 against the Las Vegas Aces, she suffered severe cramps, was stretchered off, and later diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis.

Now, Mitchell also seems to be taking things more seriously. She recently shared, “I’m getting my PhD in Educational Leadership. Yeah, it’s pretty hard being a student athlete at 30, but I guess I can do it, but it’s been humbling."

Mitchell’s focus on her health and academic pursuits adds a new layer to her management strategy this season.

What's your take on White's new plan? Comments down below.

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Written by

Sauramita Debbarma

Edited by

Utsav Gupta