Indiana Fever Part Ways with Head Coach Christie Sides
The Indiana Fever announced Sunday that head coach Christie Sides will not return for the 2025 season, concluding her two-year tenure with the organization. Sides, who helped guide the team to their first postseason appearance in seven years, leaves with a 33-47 (.413) regular-season record. The decision marks the start of another new era for a team seeking to build on recent progress and reignite its championship aspirations.
The move by the Fever adds to the unprecedented level of coaching turnover as six teams, including some high-profile departures, head into the 2025 season searching for new head coaches.
Leadership During a Critical Transition
Sides took the reins of the Fever during a pivotal time, guiding the team through significant restructuring and player development. Her leadership not only brought improvement to the team’s on-court performance but also set a foundation for the future, according to Fever President of Basketball Operations Kelly Krauskopf.
“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,” Krauskopf said in a statement. “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.”
Highlights of Sides’ Tenure
Under Sides, the Fever took substantial strides in rebuilding a team that had endured several seasons at the bottom of the WNBA standings. She helped to shape the early careers of two WNBA Rookies of the Year, Aliyah Boston (2023) and Caitlin Clark (2024), establishing a core of young talent that has fans and analysts alike optimistic about the team’s future.
Sides’ efforts were recognized league-wide, as she became the first Fever coach to be named WNBA Coach of the Month in August 2024. Her tactical adjustments and roster management in the latter half of the season helped secure a long-awaited playoff berth, marking Indiana’s first postseason appearance since 2016.
Eyeing a Championship Return
Despite the growth under Sides, the Fever’s management believes the team needs a fresh approach to realize its full potential. Krauskopf’s statement emphasized a commitment to “bold and assertive” strategies to bring another WNBA championship to Indiana, indicating that the Fever will pursue a head coach aligned with their ambitions for consistent contention.
Sides’ departure leaves the team at a critical juncture as they aim to build upon the momentum achieved over the last two years. Her work in developing a promising young core will likely be a major asset for the incoming head coach as Indiana positions itself as a future force in the league.
Open Head Coach Positions
- Indiana Fever
- Atlanta Dream
- Dallas Wings
- Los Angeles Sparks
- Chicago Sky
- Washington Mystics
With these six head coaching positions open, teams across the league are re-evaluating their strategies and preparing to make moves that will shape the 2025 season.
