The Indiana Fever had a breakout season, but it did not stop them from firing head coach Christie Sides. She went 33-47 in her two seasons but made an eight-win improvement in year one and snapped the W’s longest playoff drought in year two. Caitlin Clark was the catalyst of the Fever’s return, and Indiana wants to take another step.
Sides did a fantastic job of bringing the team together and avoiding the drama as their popularity grew. The Fever were the most-watched team in the W this season but dealt with the least off-court issues. Credit to Sides, but her Xs and Os and in-game management certainly left plenty to be desired.
With Sides officially gone, the Fever’s head coaching gig will draw plenty of interest. Even the top coaches will want a shot to coach Caitlin Clark. The Fever are committed to jumping into title contention as soon as possible and want an experienced leader, which creates an obvious candidate for the job.
Stephanie White is the obvious choice to coach the Indiana Fever
White has been a head coach for the Fever before. She led them to the WNBA Finals in 2015 and back to the playoffs in 2016 before leaving to coach the University of Vanderbilt as Tamika Catchings retired. White knows Fever president Kelly Krauskopf well and has only improved her coaching resume.
In the last two seasons, White has coached the Connecticut Sun to back-to-back WNBA semifinals. They have gone 55-25 in the regular season and 7-7 in the playoffs. She knows how to win and maximize her roster. White is still searching for her first championship, but she has been close three times.
The 5’9 guard was taken by the Fever in the expansion draft in 2000 and spent five years with the franchise as a player. She has seen things grow from the beginning and is the perfect candidate to replace Christie Sides.
Convincing Stephanie White to come will be costly. The Fever have already parted with Sides, and must pay White like a top coach too. Indiana is committed to winning, so it should be an easy decision.
Caitlin Clark will have a new head coach in year two. Expect the team to play to number 22’s strengths. It will be an up-tempo system with plenty of outside shooting and an emphasis on defense. That is what the Fever need to compete for a championship. Expect roster upgrades this offseason and a serious push toward the top of the W in 2025. Stay tuned to see how it all plays out.