Christie Sides: In a surprising move, the Indiana Fever abruptly announced on Sunday that they were terminating their contract with head coach Christie Sides, despite a season where the team achieved a noteworthy 20-20 record and ended their four-year playoff drought. The Fever’s organizational leadership expressed that this consequential decision was made in pursuit of maximizing the franchise’s potential for future accomplishments.

President of basketball operations Kelly Krauskopf elaborated on the Fever’s determination to set a new course, stating, “We appreciate Coach Sides’ dedication through a transitional period but pursuing excellence demands that we take bold strides. Our top priority is maximizing our talented roster and bringing a WNBA title back to Indiana.”

During her two-year tenure, Sides guided the Fever to a record of 33-47, coaching successive number one overall draft picks Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark. Clark specifically stood out, attracting attention with her breakout rookie campaign and exciting fans with her skill and confidence.

Reports have linked former Connecticut Sun head coach Stephanie White with interest from the Fever and Chicago Sky about their head coaching vacancies. Prior to leading the Fever, Sides served as an assistant for the franchise from 2017 to 2019 as well as with the Chicago Sky and Atlanta Dream.

By moving in a new direction from Sides, the Fever have signaled their resolute commitment to adopt innovative strategies and maximize their roster’s potential to restore the team among the WNBA’s elite. As a new chapter begins, the Fever will focus on nurturing the talents of rising stars like Caitlin Clark to construct a championship-caliber roster.