The talk around Indianapolis isn’t just about the Fever’s playoff showdown with the Las Vegas Aces. Earlier, Stephanie White went brutally honest on the Aces’ domination over the Indiana Fever. And now, the head coach is pouring her thoughts on a basketball legend.
White, in the thick of a tied 1-1 semifinal series, took time to honor Nancy Leonard. Notably, Nancy was the trailblazer who died at 93, whose work saved the Pacers and shaped basketball in the state.
Stephanie White Sends Thoughts On Nancy Leonard’s Passing
On September 24, 2025, the Indiana Pacers shared news of Leonard’s passing, right as the Fever returned home after splitting games in Vegas. White, an Indiana native and Purdue grad who played for the Fever from 2000 to 2004, is guiding a roster hit hard by injuries to stars like Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham.
With Game 3 set for Gainbridge Fieldhouse, her tribute to Leonard ties the Fever’s grit to the state’s basketball roots under owner Herb Simon. Fresh off a tough Game 2 loss, White connected the Fever’s playoff push to Leonard’s lasting impact on Indiana basketball.
“Her legacy is unmatched. You think about the history of Nancy and Slick, certainly, what they’ve meant to this franchise, and what they’ve meant to the sport, and what they’ve meant from a leadership position in our community,” she said.
Celebrating the life of a legend 💙
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) September 24, 2025
Nancy Leonard, the widow of the late, great Bobby "Slick" Leonard, was the first female GM in @NBA history and the architect behind a 1977 telethon that kept our franchise in Indianapolis.
Read more about her legacy: https://t.co/RIkDB525Zo pic.twitter.com/PHSFuR2NBl
Scroll to continue reading
Trending WNBA News
Leonard, with her husband, saved the Pacers from folding in the 1970s with a 1977 telethon that raised $2 million. Much to their efforts, they secured the team’s NBA future. As the NBA’s first female assistant GM from 1976 to 1980, Leonard earned the title “First Lady of Indiana Basketball.” And it came from none other than Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton.
Stephanie White Addresses Fever’s Tough Road Ahead
White’s nod to Leonard’s grit flows into her approach to the Fever’s playoff challenges, where exhaustion looms large. However, on Thursday, she shut down talk of tiredness, saying the team does not have enough time to feel tired while facing a challenging WNBA Semifinals. White earlier won praise from Aliyah Boston for her role in the team’s epic playoff run.
Additionally, with six games in 13 days and six players out, including Clark, Cunningham, and Damiris Dantas, the Fever’s 24-20 season and Atlanta’s upset prove their toughness. But Mitchell’s drop from 34 points in Game 1 to 13 in Game 2’s 90-68 rout was a strain that is looking for answers.