After the franchise’s first appearance in the WNBA playoffs since 2016 and a remarkable Rookie of the Year season by Caitlin Clark, the Indiana fever announced early Sunday that they had parted ways with former head coach Christie Sides.
Sides, who had been the Fever’s head coach the past two seasons, finished with a 33-47 regular season record, including a 20-20 season in 2024.
While the Fever qualified for the WBNA playoffs for the first time in eight years, they suffered a two-game first round sweep by the Connecticut Sun.
Kelly Krauskopf, Fever president of basketball operations, announced the move on Sunday.
“We are incredibly grateful to Coach Sides for taking on the challenge of guiding us through a period of full transition over the past two seasons, while also positioning us well for future growth.
“While decisions like this are never easy, it is also imperative that we remain bold and assertive in pursuit of our goals, which include maximizing our talent and bringing another WNBA championship to Indiana. Coach Sides was an incredible representative of the Fever and our community, and we wish her nothing but success in the future,” Krauskopf said in a statement.
Sides was hired after the 2022 season to replace Marianne Stanley and her interim successor, Carlos Knox. Sides had two years remaining on his four-year contract as coach.
The news adds to the list of coaches who have not lasted more than three seasons since Lin Dunn held the position for six seasons from 2008-2014.
The Fever’s latest campaign had several ups and downs, starting with a 1-9 record to start the season, but rebounded with an 18-9 stretch between June 1 and September 10.
The Fever, aided by the offensive talent of Caitlin Clark and Co., also held the league’s best offensive rating (109.6 points per 100 possessions) after the Olympic break.
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
The Fever, aiming to return to the WNBA playoffs in 2025, will bring back Clark along with 2023 Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston and hope to re-sign All-Star Kelsey Mitchell in free agency.
For Clark, this will be the first time she has undergone a coaching change, having spent all four of her seasons at Iowa under the tutelage of head coach Lisa Bluder. As Clark enters her second WNBA season, it will be interesting to see how a new coach uses her talents.
Clark finished his rookie season averaging 19.2 points, 8.4 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 41.7% from the field, 34.4% from 3 points and 90.6% from the free throw line.
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