Stephanie White, at one time the centerpiece of the expansion franchise due to her immense popularity from her years as an Indiana high school and college basketball icon, has returned to the court, intent on renewing her career.

After averaging 5.6 points in 30 games in the 2001 season, her third in the WNBA, White sat out last year after having two operations on her left ankle and one on her right knee just before training camp opened. She did some TV sideline reporting, spent some time as an assistant coach for a high school team and generally pondered whether her playing days had come to an end.

In the process, she re-discovered her love of the game.

“As time went on, I was focused on other areas of my life and basketball was kind of secondary,” she said. “Now, it’s a priority and it’s a passion. I played in some leagues this offseason and I went back to Purdue and played some. You just remember that you play for fun and that’s what I did. I went out and just had fun.

“I worked out with my trainer and just enjoyed it instead of working out because it was something I needed to do. It was something I wanted to do. Sometimes, when you start thinking of it as a job, you start dreading it. When you have fun and enjoy it, you want to be there every single day and you want to do what it takes to get there. And that’s what I’ve really recaptured – the fun. And with that comes the passion.”

At Seeger High in West Lebanon, IN, she re-wrote the record books, reaching single-game highs of 66 points, 30 rebounds and 17 assists while graduating in 1995 as the state’s career scoring leader. At Purdue, she led the Boilermakers to their first NCAA championship in 1999, winning the Wade Trophy and finishing as runner-up in National Player of the Year balloting.

Her WNBA career, however, never took flight. A second-round pick of Charlotte, she averaged just 5.3 points as a rookie in 1999. She was exposed to the expansion draft, where Miami selected her, then traded her to the Fever for Sandy Brondello immediately afterward. She averaged 7.2 points with the Fever in 2000, starting the first 12 games before finishing the season as a reserve.

She spent most of the past year getting her life in order. That reportedly included a divorce, which is why her jersey now bears her maiden name, and the decision to make a total commitment to her comeback.

“Sitting out last season and having to watch was really hard,” she said. “I had a good time doing sideline reporting and everything else but I’d rather be out on the court. I love my teammates. It’s awesome to be in a situation where I’m with them every day. Being away from it really made me want to go out there and to get into the best possible shape to play this season. It’s always frustrating when you’re injured and you can’t be out there, especially when you have to sit out that length of time. So I got myself a trainer and worked really hard and put myself into position to be successful.”

Coming all the way back won’t be easy. The Fever is no longer an expansion team searching for live bodies; it is a legitimate contender for the Eastern Conference title. Three-time WNBA All-Star Nikki McCray holds down the shooting guard position. Rookie Coretta Brown, a first-round pick acquired from San Antonio along with Natalie Williams, has been impressive in camp and plays both guard positions. Niele Ivey and Coquese Washington (who is sitting out camp after minor knee surgery in April) are solid at the point.

Even so, White has made quite an impression on Fortner, her coach at Purdue during the 1996-97 season.

Fortner

“I think she’s still in the process of getting back into it, but she’s really worked hard,” Fortner said. “And she’s got such a great sense about the game that it’s a matter of getting up and down the floor, getting the feel back of seeing the floor and making the pass. But it doesn’t take her long. She’s making the adjustment quite well.

“She just has a totally different demeanor than she’s had the last two years, without a doubt, as far as when I’ve coached her. She’s getting back to the Stephanie I knew when I coached her at Purdue and when I saw her play in high school. She has the love of the game back, and she has a confidence about herself that’s really exciting.”

Of course, White didn’t expect this to be easy.

“I haven’t played a game in almost two years and it’s difficult to get the rhythm and the flow of the game back,” she said. “Playing pickup isn’t the same as being out there with team offenses and team defenses, but I put myself in a position where I’m in great shape and mentally I’m ready to go. It’s just, get out on the court and let everything take care of itself.

“I think I’m where I want to be in terms of physical and mental shape. Obviously, my on-court game isn’t necessarily exactly where I want it to be. My lateral movement is still a little bit slower than it was but at the same time, I’m stronger, I’m quicker with the ball, I worked on my ballhanding and shooting a lot this offseason and right now, I’m happy with what I’m doing on the court. And I’m happy with my mindset because this game is just as much mental as it is physical.”

Her mind is right and her body is tanned, rested and ready. More importantly, basketball is fun again. Already, she has won.