Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White recently shared her awe and admiration for Caitlin Clark, particularly highlighting the star’s exceptional work ethic in the early stages of their training together. White, who spoke at Purdue University’s Presidential Lecture Series, was asked about Clark’s approach to training, and she didn’t hold back in praising the rising star.

As expected from someone of Clark’s caliber, her dedication and focus on the court have been impressive from the start. “So far she has been very coachable,” White said. “I haven’t had to do much yet. Most great players want to be coached, they want to be challenged, and they want to be pushed outside of their comfort zones because they want to be the greatest that has ever played.”

White acknowledged that Clark’s level of commitment and precision in her training is a key indicator of her desire to be the best. “When you have somebody who works like she works on a daily basis—somebody who’s a perfectionist and performs at such an elite level—they want to be the best,” White explained.

White, who joined the Fever after leaving the Connecticut Sun during the off-season, expressed how much she was looking forward to working with Clark—one of the primary reasons she took on the new role. Her appreciation for Clark’s work ethic runs deep, and she drew a powerful comparison to one of the WNBA’s all-time greats.

“I’ve only worked out with her in the gym a handful of times, but I compare her work ethic to the only other player I’ve seen work like this—Tamika Catchings,” White said. “Tamika is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, and Caitlin’s work ethic is on that level.”

With her determination and drive, Caitlin Clark is continuing to make waves in the basketball world, earning the respect and admiration of her coaches, including the legendary Tamika Catchings comparison. As she continues to develop in the WNBA, it’s clear that Clark is poised for greatness.