The Indiana Fever have made quite the splash recently by showing head coach Christie Sides the door, a move that’s left WNBA fans buzzing louder than a courtside announcer during a buzzer-beater. Sides had just pulled the team out of a mudslide, leading them to their first playoff appearance since 2016 after a nightmare start of 1-8. But, in the wild world of professional basketball, that kind of success doesn’t guarantee job security. So now, fans are fantasizing about their next coaching savior—and they’ve got a particular retired Iowa legend in mind: Lisa Bluder.
Yes, that Lisa Bluder, the same woman who molded Caitlin Clark into the hoops prodigy she is today. Clark’s former mentor has become the WNBA’s latest white whale, with fans feverishly calling for her to bring some of her golden coaching magic to Indiana. “LISA BLUDER IS OTW!” they shout, as if she’s been waiting on the sidelines with a clipboard in hand. One fan on social media probably summed it up best with: “Lisa Bluder incoming!!!” Spoiler alert: She’s definitely not incoming.
In fact, Bluder couldn’t have been clearer about her plans to stay retired, telling anyone who will listen, “There is no way.” Let’s translate that from coach speak, shall we? What she really means is: “Are you serious? I just retired! Why on earth would I swap the relaxing life of a retiree for the stress of coaching another WNBA team?” Cue eye roll.
But you know how rumors are in sports—when fans get an idea, they hold on tighter than a point guard with a 2-second shot clock. And with Indiana’s front office doing a full-blown rebuild around young stars like Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston, you can’t blame fans for wanting Bluder at the helm. After all, her track record with Clark is legendary—why wouldn’t Indiana want to reunite that dynamic duo? Well, for starters, because Bluder seems to enjoy lounging in her retirement more than yelling plays from the sideline.
That hasn’t stopped the internet from speculating, though. Even sports reporter Rachel DeMita couldn’t resist fanning the flames with her cryptic post on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “Someone call Lisa Bluder.” Yes, Rachel, go ahead and give her a ring. But don’t be surprised if she sends you straight to voicemail.
Now, the Fever are far from helpless. They’ve got Kelly Krauskopf and Amber Cox orchestrating a front office overhaul that’s turning heads. They’ve also got some major cap space to work with—free agents, beware! Kelsey Mitchell, a star in her own right, is on their radar for re-signing, and if rumors are to be believed, they’re even eyeing Dallas Wings sensation Satou Sabally to come join the party.
So, while the fans continue to dream of Bluder marching into Indiana with her whistle at the ready, she’s probably on a beach somewhere, sipping a drink, shaking her head, and thinking, “Nah, I’m good.”