Fever Coach Makes Unprecedented Caitlin Clark Move

Fever Coach Makes Unprecedented Caitlin Clark Move originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Indiana Fever point guard Caitlin Clark is getting closer to a return, but when she does get back on the court, Indiana head coach Stephanie White has a new role in mind.

Clark has only appeared in nine Fever games, missing five earlier this season with a quad injury and the last five with a groin injury, both in her left leg.

Her massive popularity and her standout performances in those nine games (18.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 8.9 assists per game) were enough to earn Clark a role as starter and captain of the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game, for which she will draft her team on Tuesday.

During Clark's absences, the Fever signed point guard Aari McDonald to hold down the position with veteran Sydney Colson. Clark and McDonald have yet to play a game together. 

Clark's return to a full practice on Monday ahead of Wednesday's game against the Golden State Valkyries gave Stephanie White a look at what it's like to play both of them at the same time, which means using Clark off the ball for the first time in her tenure.

Fever guard Aari McDonald continues to impress. Here are several highlights from the open practice pic.twitter.com/TiZNyQ5vs9

— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) July 8, 2025

"This is really the first time that we’ve been able to practice that," White said of playing the two point guards together, "so I look forward to exploring that a little bit more.”

“I think it could be really good for us to get (Clark) off the ball a little bit more in certain situations," she explained. "Playing on the floor with Aari gives her that opportunity. It can give her a break. We can get her and our team different looks when that happens." 

Stephanie White on playing Aari McDonald and Caitlin Clark together, getting CC some off-ball looks, and how she’s progressing for Wednesday: pic.twitter.com/3mhRO3ITDn

— Chloe Peterson (@chloepeterson67) July 7, 2025

When Clark last played, she endured a three-point shooting slump of 1-for-23 across three straight road games. At the time, White said that getting her "easier ones" by moving her around was the remedy. It appears like this new role could be a way to achieve that.

It may be an unprecedented shift for Clark this season, but White used two point guards together during her first stint as Fever head coach from 2015 to 2016. 

"I’m used to playing multiple point guards on the floor at the same time," White said. "It will be organic ... Having Aari on the floor gives us another opportunity to do that.”

Related: Indiana Fever’s Decision Before Valkyries Game Fuels Speculation

Related: WNBA Fans Refuse To Accept Truth About Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 8, 2025, where it first appeared.