Fever's firing of second-year HC Christie Sides shouldn't come as shock

Although the Indiana Fever snapped an eight-year playoff drought in 2024, it never seemed the organization was convinced Christie Sides was the answer.

On Sunday, Indiana's lack of confidence in Sides became even more apparent. The Fever announced they would be moving on from the second-year head coach. 

"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 positioning us for future growth," Fever President of Basketball Operations Kelly Krauskopf said in a statement, per the team website. "While decisions like these are never easy, it is also imperative that we remain bold and assertive in the pursuit of our goals, which include 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 the best in the future."

During Sides' second season, the Fever's record improved from 13-27 to 20-20. In August 2024, she became the first coach in franchise history to be named WNBA Coach of the Month.

Star guard Caitlin Clark — the No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 WNBA Draft — thrived under Sides. In 40 regular-season games, the former Iowa Hawkeyes star averaged 19.2 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game and 8.4 assists per game, winning Rookie of the Year. 

However, the Connecticut Sun swept the Fever in the first round of the WNBA playoffs. 

The Fever clearly felt they needed to make a coaching change to vault to the next level. On Wednesday, the Chicago Sun-Times' Annie Costabile reported Indiana is courting Sun HC Stephanie White, who has one year left on her contract. 

Should Indiana land White, that would be a win for the franchise. White has a 55-25 record in two seasons with the Sun and won 2023 Coach of the Year. 

The Fever may face some competition for her coaching services, though. Five other teams have made coaching changes this offseason, including the Chicago Sky, which feature star forward Angel Reese. 

Still, White coached Indiana from 2015-16, guiding it to the WNBA Finals in her first season. Plus, a player of Clark's caliber seemingly makes the Fever one of the most appealing jobs in the WNBA.