The Indiana Fever recently announced the dismissal of head coach Christie Sides, following her two-season tenure with the team. With a record of 33-47, including a 20-20 performance this past season, Sides guided the Fever to their first playoff appearance since 2016, where they entered as the sixth seed but were unfortunately swept in the first round by the Connecticut Sun.

In an interview, Kelly Krauskopf, the Fever’s president of basketball operations, shared her thoughts on the coaching change: “We are incredibly thankful to Coach Sides for embracing the challenge of leading us through an integral transition period over the last two seasons, while also positioning us well for future growth. While decisions like these are never easy, it is also imperative that we remain bold and assertive in the pursuit of our goals, which includes maximizing our talent and bringing another WNBA championship back to Indiana. Coach Sides was an incredible representative of the Fever and our community, and we wish her nothing but success in the future.”

The future looks bright for the Fever, as the incoming coach will have the opportunity to work with a strong young core, including Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston, both of whom recently earned back-to-back WNBA Rookie of the Year honors.

Krauskopf, who returned to the Fever earlier this month after time spent with the Indiana Pacers, is set to lead the team through this transition. During Sides’ tenure, the Fever faced significant challenges, such as a demanding schedule that saw them lose eight of their first nine games. However, they found their stride after the Olympic break, winning seven of eight and securing a spot in the playoffs.

With the Fever’s decision to move in a new direction, they become the sixth team to make a coaching change this offseason, joining Dallas, Atlanta, Chicago, Washington, and Los Angeles, all of which have also parted ways with coaches who had three years or less of experience.