The Indiana Fever announced on Sunday that they have parted ways with coach Christie Sides after her two seasons with the team, making them the latest WNBA franchise to make a coaching change.
Under Sides’ leadership, the Fever, led by Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell, achieved a 20-20 record and made their first playoff appearance since 2016, ultimately losing to the Connecticut Sun in the first round.
Fever president of basketball operations Kelly Krauskopf expressed gratitude towards Coach Sides for her efforts in leading the team through a transitional phase and positioning them for future growth. The team is focused on maximizing talent and bringing another WNBA championship to Indiana.
During her tenure, Sides helped develop WNBA Rookies of the Year Boston (2023) and Clark (2024), with a regular-season record of 33-47 (.413).
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Clark, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft, continued her record-setting ways in the WNBA last season, achieving multiple milestones and earning accolades such as All-Star and All-WNBA First Team.
As a seasoned assistant coach, Sides became Indiana’s head coach in 2022 and was named WNBA Coach of the Month in August. However, the team decided to part ways with her post-season.
Reports suggest that Indiana has been in talks with Stephanie White, current coach of the Connecticut Sun, about potentially taking over the coaching role.
The decision to replace Sides is part of a larger trend in the WNBA this off-season, with other teams like Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, and Washington also seeking new head coaches. The Golden State Valkyries, an expansion franchise, have already appointed Natalie Nakase as their head coach.
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(Photo: Greg Fiume / Getty Images)
