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Indiana Fever fire coach Christie Sides, becomes the sixth WNBA team to make a change
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Indiana Fever fire coach Christie Sides, becomes the sixth WNBA team to make a change

The Indiana Fever fired coach Christie Sides on Sunday, the organization announced.

Sides went 33-47 in his two seasons with the team, including 20-20 this season. The Fever made the playoffs as the sixth seed and were swept in the first round by the Connecticut Sun.

Indiana is the sixth team to make a coaching change this offseason, joining Dallas, Atlanta, Chicago, Washington and Los Angeles. All coaches let go had three years or less of experience.

Whoever takes over for the Fever will have a strong young core to work with, led by Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston. The pair have won the last two WNBA Rookie of the Year awards.

“We are extremely grateful to Coach Sides for embracing the challenge of leading us through an integrated transition period over the past two seasons, while positioning ourselves well for future growth,” said Kelly Krauskopf, Fever director of basketball operations.

“While decisions like these are never easy, it is also imperative that we remain bold and confident 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 for Fever and our community, and we wish her nothing but success in the future.”

Krauskopf returned to the Fever earlier this month after spending time with the Indiana Pacers.

Sides was a longtime assistant in the league, spending time with Chicago (2011-16), the Fever (2017-19) and Atlanta (2022) before landing the head coaching job. She replaced Marianne Stanley and her interim successor, Carlos Knox, who coached the 2022 season.

Sides had two years left on her contract.

The Fever haven’t had a head coach in more than three years since Lin Dunn, who coached from 2008-14. Since then, they’ve had Stephanie White (2015-16), Pokey Chatman (2017-19) and Stanley (2020-22).

Indiana had a brutal schedule to start the season, losing eight of its first nine games. The Fever finally got going after the Olympic break, winning seven of eight to make the playoffs.

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