• Loading stock data...
Friday, August 22, 2025
The biggest names in sports media. All in one room. Buy tickets now!

Indiana Fever Fire Sides, Open Sixth WNBA Coaching Vacancy

  • The Indiana Fever parted ways with head coach Christie Sides despite the team making the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
  • Six WNBA teams now have head coach openings.
Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

The WNBA’s coaching carousel keeps turning.

The Indiana Fever have parted ways with head coach Christie Sides, the team announced Sunday. Sides finished with a 33–47 record over two seasons with the Fever, including a 20–20 record in 2024, good for the sixth seed and the franchise’s first playoff berth since 2016.

Sides’s firing means six WNBA teams have head coaching vacancies—half the league, without including the expansion Golden State Valkyries, who hired former Las Vegas Aces assistant coach Natalie Nakase.

With the arrival of No. 1 pick Caitlin Clark this season—and even top pick Aliyah Boston last year—the spotlight was on Sides to deliver, despite it being her first major head coaching gig. She received a lot of criticism early in the season as the Fever opened the season with a 2–8 record, but the team turned its season enough to become a legitimate test for the title-contending Connecticut Sun in the first round.

Earlier this month, new team president Kelly Krauskopf spoke highly of Sides, especially given the outside noise she faced all season.

“For a young team to make that kind of progress, it’s hard to not be impressed,” Krauskopf said during her introductory press conference.

However, even with the strong finish, the writing may have been on the wall for Sides as the Fever had a major front-office shake-up over the last two months. In early September, president and COO Allison Barber announced she would be stepping down. Krauskopf, who was the franchise’s GM from 2000 to 2017, announced weeks later she would return as team president

In early October, the Fever hired Amber Cox away from the Dallas Wings to be their new COO. She was also hired as the team’s new GM, while Lin Dunn moved to a senior advisor role.

Following the announcement of her firing, Sides posted on X: “Leave it better than you found it.”

Coaching Carousel

Other than the Fever, the teams currently without a head coach are the Wings, Chicago Sky, Los Angeles Sparks, Atlanta Dream, and Washington Mystics. The Phoenix Mercury are the only franchise that finished with a .500 or worse record not to fire their head coach this offseason. Nate Tibbetts joined the Mercury this season—and is the highest-paid coach in the WNBA.

The slew of coaching vacancies could present a market shift in the WNBA as teams anticipate an influx of funds from the $2.2 billion media-rights deal that begins in 2026. While WNBA coaching salaries are much higher than those of players, the additional funds and rising reputation of the league gives front offices the opportunity to go after more tenured or prominent head coaches.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Malik Beasley

Malik Beasley Could Still Be Charged in Gambling Probe Despite Feds Dropping..

Beasley’s lawyer is hoping his client can return to the NBA.
Aug 5, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) looks to drive past New York Liberty guard Natasha Cloud (9) in the third quarter at Barclays Center.

Man Arrested for Throwing Dildo at Liberty Game

After police released his photo, the man turned himself in.

Featured Today

Oct 2, 2024; Rosemont, IL, USA; Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti speaks with the media during the 2024 Big Ten Women’s Basketball media day at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.

‘Not Ready to Jump In’: Power 4 Commissioners Aren’t Sold on PE

Top leaders in college sports have yet to see a satisfactory proposal.
Nov 23, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin looks at quarterback Drew Allar (15) during the first quarter against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Huntington Bank Stadium.
August 22, 2025

Private Equity Enters College Sports—Without the Equity

As college football starts, lending agreements have become PE’s best way in.
Sep 8, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants running back Eric Gray (20) returns a kickoff against the Minnesota Vikings during the first half at MetLife Stadium.
August 18, 2025

‘Fauxbacks’ Throw Back to a Retro Uniform That Never Existed

Many throwback jerseys are brand-new designs or “Franken-Unis.”
August 17, 2025

‘Labubu Gang’: The Creepy-Cute Dolls Sweeping Pro Sports

The creepy-cute doll is the hottest collectible—and fashion statement.
Inter Miami bench

Inter Miami Post-Red Card Phone Coaching May Have Been Legal

Javier Mascherano appeared to continue coaching through a call from the stands.
August 1, 2025

Belichick Bump Creating Record UNC Ticket Prices

The cost of seeing the NFL legend’s college coaching debut is soaring.
Andy Reid
August 21, 2025

Andy Reid Office Shooting Went Unreported for a Year

Reid was inside at the time but wasn’t injured.
Sponsored

Building A Pro League From Scratch

Front Office Sports and Gainbridge® spotlight what it takes to build a professional women’s soccer league.
July 28, 2025

Deion Sanders Had Bladder Removed Due to Cancer, Is Ready for Season

Sanders had his bladder removed in May.
July 28, 2025

Bulls Extend Billy Donovan After Rejecting Knicks Advances

The Bulls finished 39–43 for the second straight season.
Mike Brown
July 2, 2025

Knicks Land on Mike Brown After Monthlong Coach Search: Reports

New York still owes Tom Thibodeau $30 million.
Udoka
June 11, 2025

Knicks Striking Out on Big-Name Tom Thibodeau Replacements So Far

Three teams have denied the Knicks permission to interview their coaches.