Though the Indiana Fever snapped an eight-year playoff drought in 2024, it by no means appeared the group was satisfied Christie Sides was the reply.
On Sunday, Indiana’s insecurity in Sides grew to become much more obvious. The Fever introduced they’d be shifting on from the second-year head coach.
“We’re extremely grateful to Coach Sides for embracing the problem of main us by way of an integral transition interval during the last two seasons whereas positioning us for future progress,” Fever President of Basketball Operations Kelly Krauskopf mentioned in an announcement, per the team website. “Whereas choices like these are by no means simple, it’s also crucial that we stay daring and assertive within the pursuit of our targets, which embody maximizing our expertise and bringing one other WNBA championship again to Indiana. Coach Sides was an unimaginable consultant of the Fever and our neighborhood, and we want her nothing however one of the best sooner or later.”
Throughout Sides’ second season, the Fever’s file improved from 13-27 to 20-20. In August 2024, she grew to become the primary coach in franchise historical past to be named WNBA Coach of the Month.
Star guard Caitlin Clark — the No. 1 general decide of the 2024 WNBA Draft — thrived below Sides. In 40 regular-season video games, the previous Iowa Hawkeyes star averaged 19.2 factors per sport, 5.7 rebounds per sport and eight.4 assists per sport, profitable Rookie of the 12 months.
Nonetheless, the Connecticut Solar swept the Fever within the first spherical of the WNBA playoffs.
The Fever clearly felt they wanted to make a training change to vault to the subsequent stage. On Wednesday, the Chicago Solar-Occasions’ Annie Costabile reported Indiana is courting Solar HC Stephanie White, who has one 12 months left on her contract.
Ought to Indiana land White, that might be a win for the franchise. White has a 55-25 file in two seasons with the Solar and received 2023 Coach of the 12 months.
The Fever might face some competitors for her teaching providers, although. 5 different groups have made teaching adjustments this offseason, together with the Chicago Sky, which function star ahead Angel Reese.
Nonetheless, White coached Indiana from 2015-16, guiding it to the WNBA Finals in her first season. Plus, a participant of Clark’s caliber seemingly makes the Fever one of the vital interesting jobs within the WNBA.
