The Indiana Fever entered a new phase of their existence on April 15, 2024 with the drafting of Caitlin Clark as their No. 1 pick. This event marked a turning point for the franchise, which had been yearning for success. On October 27, 2024, another significant event took place as they officially severed ties with their head coach, Christie Sides. Despite her tenure being referred to as an “integral transition period”, her dismissal signified an alteration in the franchise’s direction. The newly appointed president of basketball operations, Kelly Krauskopf, expressed the organization’s ambitions to maximize their talent and strive for another WNBA championship.
Sides was initially brought on to the team during a developmental phase but was unable to translate that into a championship. With Clark and another 2023 No. 1 pick, Aliyah Boston leading the franchise, the Fever had set their sights for the season on making the playoffs for the first time since 2012. The heightened expectations came off the back of Clark’s record-breaking rookie season, showing the impact a transcendent star can have on a franchise’s prospects.
Krauskopf envisions a future for the Fever where the franchise is both driven by Clark’s talents and influenced by Krauskopf’s leadership. Krauskopf is no stranger to the team or success – she led the Fever from 2000 to 2018, making the postseason 13 times and playing in three WNBA finals in seven years, which included a WNBA title in 2012. Her contribution as the Pacers’ assistant general manager and the first woman in NBA history to fill an executive basketball management role also speaks volumes about her capabilities.
The forthcoming coaching search is expected to take the franchise’s history and Krauskopf’s vision into consideration. One noteworthy prospect is the current Connecticut Sun coach, Stephanie White, who is both an Indiana native and Purdue alum. She played for the Fever from 2000 to 2004, served as an assistant coach from 2011 to 2014, and later coached the franchise in 2015 and 2016. As one of the top coaches of the league, who has led the Fever to finals and extracted the best from her players, White seems a fitting candidate to advance the undeniable talent in Indiana.
However, the separation from Sides wasn’t only about player-coach dynamics but also about Krauskopf’s larger vision of how the franchise could evolve under Clark’s leadership. Through regular strategic meetings and discussions about handling pressure on and off the court, Clark was able to improve her shooting accuracy, enabling the Fever to win nine out of 14 games post the All-Star break. She also led the team to the playoffs and won the ‘Rookie of the Year’ title, achievements Krauskopf lauded Sides for.
The Fever’s narrative of progress underscores its comprehensive shift from development to a feverish pursuit of championships. There is a new coach and general manager expected to be on board by next spring and the lottery parties of former GM Dunn’s era are a thing of the past. With Clark as their star player, the Indiana Fever are once again on a championship course, reaffirming that fortune favors the bold.
