Is it a playoff spot or a hot seat for Coach Sides?
The Indiana Fever may have secured the sixth seed in the 2024 WNBA playoffs, but if you ask Fever fans, the real heat isn’t on the court – it’s on head coach Christie Sides. After their narrow 110-109 victory over the Dallas Wings, fans were less interested in the thrilling win and more fixated on Sides’ failure to, well, actually coach during a heated moment involving rookie sensation Caitlin Clark. And boy, they’re not letting it slide.
Clark Gets Slammed, Sides Gets Slammed Harder
Picture this: It’s the first half, Caitlin Clark—Indiana’s new favorite rookie and all-around basketball prodigy—is on her way to the basket. Cue Dallas Wings forward Natasha Howard swooping in for what some are calling a “foul” and others might describe as a full-on WWE takedown. Clark, doing what Clark does best, gets the shot off, misses, and ends up sprawled on the floor with Howard landing square on top of her. Awkward? Extremely. Painful? Absolutely.
Fever fans inside the arena? They were livid. Meanwhile, Coach Christie Sides on the sideline? Crickets.
Twitter—or X, as we now begrudgingly call it—exploded with fiery fans venting their frustrations. “Why didn’t Christie Sides defend Caitlin Clark?” was the question of the hour.
Coach, Where’s the Fire?
Here’s where things get really interesting. Not only did Sides stay eerily quiet after the incident, she promptly benched Clark right after. Oh, and we’re not talking about resting-your-rookie-after-a-big-play benching, either. No, this was the kind of move that makes fans scratch their heads and wonder if they’re secretly watching a basketball-themed soap opera.
“I can’t overstate how bad of a coach Sides is #FireSides,” one fan ranted on X, setting the social media world ablaze with their frustration. Another user, clearly comparing Sides to other WNBA coaches, chimed in, “Becky Hammon sometimes does too much, but at least her players know she’s got their back. The Fever need that.”
Ouch. Hammon comparison? That’s got to sting.
Silent Sides: A Pattern of Non-Action?
This isn’t the first time Christie Sides has taken the “quiet as a church mouse” approach to coaching. In their recent losses to the Las Vegas Aces, fans once again called out her lack of reaction to questionable officiating. It’s becoming her signature move, apparently—say nothing, do less, watch the chaos unfold. It’s a strategy… just not one you want if you’re trying to win over an already testy fanbase.
A Cinderella Season with a Silent Coach?
Here’s the kicker (or, shall we say, buzzer-beater): The Fever have actually had a pretty impressive season, considering they started with a dismal 1-8 record. Now, thanks to All-Stars Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell, they’ve clawed their way into the playoffs for the first time since 2016. If you think that’s not something to celebrate, well, you might be Christie Sides.
With the playoffs just around the corner, you’d think Fever fans would be over the moon. But instead of confetti, there’s a storm cloud hovering over Sides’ head, as many wonder if she’s got the chops to lead this talented roster to postseason glory.
The Fever’s playoff journey kicks off on September 22, but the question remains: Will Christie Sides finally stand up for her players, or will she once again watch from the sidelines in silence? One thing’s for sure—Fever fans won’t stay silent if things don’t change.
Sides or No Sides? That is the Question
As the Indiana Fever head into the playoffs, Fever fans have one eye on the scoreboard and the other on their coach. The team may be on a hot streak, but Sides’ icy sideline demeanor has the potential to cool things off fast.
So, buckle up, Fever faithful. This playoff run could be the fairy tale you’ve been waiting for—or a Shakespearean tragedy in the making. Either way, we can only hope Christie Sides finds her voice before it’s too late.
Because if there’s one thing we know, Indiana Fever fans want answers. And they want them now.
