ESPN Legend Urges Indiana Fever to Pursue UCLA Coach Cori Close if Stephanie White Replaced

Stephanie White's future with the Indiana Fever has been a topic of discussion among fans following the team's first-round playoff exit. Given how poorly the season went for Indiana, it was hardly surprising that White emerged as one of the top candidates on the hot seat for much of the 2026 season.

There has been plenty of speculation about potential replacements. While the franchise has yet to make any announcements, fans and pundits continue to discuss possible candidates as the Fever consider their options.

Former ESPN star Linda Cohn is among those who have a name in mind that could be a great fit for Caitlin Clark and the team. On her YouTube channel on Wednesday, Cohn shared that UCLA coach Cori Close is the candidate who intrigues her most for the Fever job.

"Big fan I am of Cori Close, the head coach of the UCLA Bruins. And when you look at what she has accomplished, particularly when it comes to developing players and building a championship program, a winning culture, there's a lot to like from Cori Close," Cohn said (Timestamp: 2:00).

Cohn pointed to how Close built the UCLA program and helped six Bruins players get selected in the 2026 WNBA draft, setting a record for the most players drafted from one program.

"Impressive resume. That doesn't happen by accident, by the way. That takes work. There's something genuine there. That tells me something about her: her ability to identify talent, develop that talent, bring different personalities together — I like that one — and prepare players for the next level. And isn't that exactly what Indiana needs? … And if I'm running the Fever, that is a phone call I'm picking up the phone to make, because Cori Close checks so many boxes when it comes to developing players, building a program, creating a winning culture. She would be my first choice right now."

Given Close's success at UCLA, a WNBA team may look to follow a similar approach by hiring a coach with a proven track record of building a winning program, despite having no prior WNBA coaching experience. Close has said that she may consider a move to the WNBA someday . With that in mind, the possibility of Close making the jump to the WNBA should not be ruled out.

Linda Cohn Points Out a Pathway for Cori Close to Land the WNBA Job

Cori Close signed a four-year, $8.0375 million contract extension in May. However, the contract includes a provision specifically addressing a potential move to become a WNBA head coach, significantly reducing the buyout.

Linda Cohn cited Front Office Sports , noting that if Close leaves UCLA to become a WNBA head coach, the buyout would be just 25% of the normal amount. If she leaves before the end of March 2027, the buyout would be approximately $500,000. Starting in April 2027, it would drop to around $437,000.

"Now, we're talking about a coach who just signed a contract worth more than $8 million. So, clearly there is a pathway. I found a pathway for her to make the jump to the WNBA without an enormous financial penalty. And if I'm the Indiana Fever, I'm (Fever general manager) Amber Cox, that's something I'm paying very close attention to," Cohn said.

As impressive as Close's resume is, it's hard to imagine how things could work out better for her and the Fever. If Indiana decides the best path forward is to retool and get back into championship contention, Close could be the right choice.

While the move feels more like a long shot, it's certainly something to watch during the offseason. Close has the potential to be a good hire for the Fever, but time will tell if she ends up being their next head coach.

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