In a move that shook up Indiana like an unexpected Pacers win, the Fever bid farewell to head coach Christie Sides after two seasons. And who’s in line to fill those shoes? None other than former Connecticut Sun coach Stephanie White. But while this coaching change comes with the usual “we’re all about championship glory” PR polish, WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes has a different theory—and it’s wrapped up in none other than the tornado that is Caitlin Clark Mania.
Let’s rewind a bit. Indiana Fever president Kelly Krauskopf, in true executive fashion, framed Sides’ exit as a part of their grand plan to bring the championship crown back to Indiana. “We’re being bold, assertive, and fearless in pursuit of glory,” she said. Translation? “We’re throwing caution to the wind and hoping Stephanie White can work some magic because the Caitlin Clark hype train nearly derailed us.”
That’s right, Caitlin Clark, the rookie phenom who’s been lighting up the WNBA and driving ticket sales faster than a Beyoncé tour, might have played a bigger role in this drama than just on the court. Swoopes, never one to mince words, recently pointed out that all the hype and media frenzy surrounding Clark may have put too much pressure on Sides, leading to her downfall.
“I think Christie did as good of a job as she could,” Swoopes noted during her podcast, Levels to This. “Managing all of the craziness, all of the Caitlin mania, all of the hype, all of the media. It was just so much that came with that.”
Yeah, no kidding. The rookie had Fever fans packing the arena and the media writing headlines like they were running out of ink. With Clark averaging 19.1 points and dishing out a league-leading 8.4 assists per game, her play on the court was as electric as her presence off it. The Fever hadn’t seen this much excitement since their last playoff run back in 2016—and guess what? Sides did get them back to the playoffs, despite all the hoopla.
But Swoopes didn’t stop there. She threw a little more spice into the pot by suggesting that the “Caitlin mania” might’ve been too much for the rest of the squad to handle. “There’s a lot of other stuff going on,” she hinted during an appearance on Gil’s Arena. “Other Fever players might be thinking, ‘This isn’t where I want to be.'”
Now, to be fair, Swoopes didn’t back that claim up with hard evidence, but when a WNBA legend talks, people listen. Sure, some heavyweights like Stephen A. Smith and Nancy Lieberman called her out, but it was clear that the Fever locker room had its own share of drama brewing behind the scenes.
As for Clark, she seems to be living her best life in the spotlight—whether it’s playing down million-dollar offers from other leagues or charming golfers like Lilia Vu in her downtime. The Fever’s rise in profile and ticket sales? Mostly thanks to Clark’s on-court heroics and off-court charisma. In May, WNBA attendance surged by a whopping 94%, and no one needs a spreadsheet to figure out who was driving those numbers.
So, while Stephanie White takes over the helm, there’s no doubt the Fever’s future will be shaped by the dazzling talents (and relentless spotlight) of Caitlin Clark. Whether White can handle the white-hot glare that comes with coaching a team in the eye of a media storm is another story. But one thing’s for sure—the Fever’s saga is far from over.
As for Sides? Well, she might just be sitting back and enjoying the show, relieved that the Caitlin Clark rollercoaster is someone else’s ride now.
