Welcome to the WNBA offseason—where coaching changes hit harder than a Caitlin Clark buzzer-beater from half court. The latest surprise? The Indiana Fever have parted ways with head coach Christie Sides, and it’s got fans wondering… was Caitlin Clark involved?
Hold up. Did Caitlin Clark, the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year and the No. 1 draft pick of 2024, just go full LeBron James on us? You know, the kind of power move where a superstar might gently nudge the front office to “reevaluate” its coaching staff? It seems like a stretch, but honestly, in today’s WNBA, anything’s possible.
Let’s set the scene: The Fever just ended an impressive season (by their standards) after finally snapping an eight-year playoff drought. That’s right, Indiana hadn’t sniffed the postseason since 2016, but Clark and her trusty sidekick Aliyah Boston came to the rescue like the dynamic duo we didn’t know we needed. They had an even 20-20 record this year, which, in Fever terms, might as well be a championship banner. But their postseason joyride was cut short by the Connecticut Sun, who promptly swept Indiana in two games.
So, you’d think making the playoffs for the first time in forever would be a reason for celebration, right? Nope! Instead, the Fever dropped a bombshell on Sunday by giving head coach Christie Sides the boot after just two seasons. Ouch. Talk about a cold-blooded move.
Sure, Sides’ overall 33-47 record wasn’t exactly Hall of Fame material, but hey, give the woman some credit! She took a team that was basically a WNBA punchline and made them halfway respectable. Yet here we are, with the Fever looking for not just a new head coach, but a whole new leadership team—including a new GM and president. Total reboot mode.
In the wake of her firing, Sides took to Twitter, because of course she did. While she didn’t directly point fingers at anyone (cough Caitlin Clark cough), you can’t help but wonder if the rookie phenom had anything to do with it. After all, Clark’s star power in the league is already sky-high, and let’s be real, when your team’s franchise player has the swagger of Steph Curry with the accuracy of a heat-seeking missile, front offices tend to listen.
This whole thing just doesn’t add up. Was Sides really the problem? Or did the Fever just need a scapegoat after their quick playoff exit? And does Caitlin Clark, fresh off draining 25 straight threes in an offseason workout (no joke), have enough juice to influence a coaching change after just one year? I mean, if Clark’s shooting from beyond the arc is any indication, her influence probably has unlimited range, too.
But hey, that’s just speculation on my part—what do I know? One thing’s for sure: Christie Sides is definitely going to be missing her courtside seat to watch Clark light it up in 2025. Let’s hope her replacement has a good pair of sunglasses because Clark’s star is only getting brighter.
In the end, all we can do is sit back, grab the popcorn, and wait to see who the Fever bring in to steer this ship next season. Whoever it is better have a game plan ready because when you’ve got Caitlin Clark on your team, anything less than a championship will probably earn you a quick trip to the unemployment line.