In a stunning twist of events that nobody saw coming—except maybe the popcorn-eating fans on social media—the Indiana Fever decided to part ways with head coach Christie Sides. The same coach who, against all odds, dragged the Fever to their first playoff appearance in seven long years. How do you reward such a feat? By showing them the door, of course.
Despite leading the Fever to a respectable 20-20 season in 2024 and snapping the team’s postseason drought, Sides was given the ol’ “thanks, but no thanks” treatment by the newly revamped Indiana front office. For those counting, that’s 33-47 overall in two seasons. Not Hall of Fame numbers, but when you’ve been coaching a team that spent more time at the bottom of the standings than a sunken ship, it’s not too shabby either.
So, why fire her now? Well, the easy answer would be, “because new bosses like to do new things.” Fever President Kelly Krauskopf, a seasoned exec with a shiny new title, didn’t waste much time cutting ties with Sides, even after publicly praising her work. You know that uncomfortable moment at a company party when your boss gives you a nice speech before handing you a pink slip? Yeah, that’s basically what happened here.
Krauskopf’s reasoning? The Fever want to go all-in on winning another WNBA championship. Bold words for a team that hasn’t sniffed the Finals in recent memory, but hey, you’ve got to admire the optimism. After all, they do have rookie sensation Caitlin Clark, the No. 1 pick from the 2024 WNBA Draft. Clark is basically the basketball version of a cheat code, but even that wasn’t enough to save Sides.
There’s also the fact that Clark’s talents weren’t fully unleashed under Sides’ reign. Fans, in their infinite wisdom, were quick to point fingers and say that maybe—just maybe—Sides wasn’t getting the best out of their new star. Let’s just say Caitlin Clark and underachievement don’t usually appear in the same sentence.
New Front Office, New Vibes, New Coach?
But perhaps the real tea lies in the fact that the Fever got a complete front-office makeover. With Krauskopf back at the helm and Amber Cox as the new general manager, it seems Sides didn’t fit the vision for Indiana’s future. Translation: Sides wasn’t “their” hire, and you know how that goes in sports.
It doesn’t help that there are some big coaching names floating around, either. Enter Curt Miller, a two-time WNBA Coach of the Year who got canned by the LA Sparks, and Stephanie White, currently mulling her future with the Connecticut Sun. White’s résumé? Oh, just five years as a player for the Fever and a brief stint as their head coach. No big deal.
And let’s not forget Lisa Bluder, the former Iowa coach who turned Caitlin Clark into the legend she is today. Imagine what Bluder could do with a team of Clark and other actual basketball players (no offense, Iowa). Fever fans can’t stop drooling over the possibilities. Twitter is already ablaze with theories and memes about Clark reuniting with her college coach.
The Coaching Carousel is Spinning
Sides’ departure isn’t just about her; it’s about a market full of hungry teams in need of a leader. With vacancies popping up around the WNBA, from the LA Sparks to the Chicago Sky, it’s a prime time to switch things up. It’s like musical chairs, but instead of chairs, it’s coaching gigs—and Sides could easily land in a cushier spot without all that pesky “win-now” pressure hanging over her head.
So, what’s next for Christie Sides? Don’t shed too many tears for her; she’ll probably end up coaching somewhere else, maybe even in Chicago where she’s got some history. Meanwhile, Indiana Fever fans are left wondering, will the next coach truly unlock the full Caitlin Clark experience? Or is this just another chapter in the Fever’s long-running soap opera?