The Indiana Fever have fired coach Christie Sides after making the playoffs in Caitlin Clark’s rookie season.
Sides went 33-47 in his two seasons with the team, including a 20-20 mark 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, with Dallas, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington also making moves.
The Fever have a young core led by Clark and Aliyah Boston, but suffered from defensive inconsistency at times in 2024.
“We are incredibly grateful to Coach Sides for accepting the challenge of guiding us through a comprehensive transition period over the past two seasons, while also positioning us well for future growth,” said Fever President of Basketball Operations Kelly Krauskopf.
Christie Sides (left) led the Fever to the playoffs in Caitlin Clark’s rookie season.
“While decisions like these are never easy, it is also imperative that we be 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 success in the future.”
Krauskopf returned to the Fever earlier this month after spending time with the Indiana Pacers.
Sides is not the first basketball coach fired after a brief stint working with the league’s most prized young talents.
Kevin Loughery, Michael Jordan’s first coach with the Chicago Bulls, lasted only two seasons with His Airness.
Larry Bird won an NBA title under his first coach, Bill Fitch, who, however, was fired by the Boston Celtics after two years with the legendary forward.
Similarly, Ervin ‘Magic’ Johnson played for Jack McKinney and Paul Westhead en route to his first NBA title as a rookie, only for Westhead to be replaced by Pat Riley in his third season with Los Angeles.
Matt Guokas lasted only one season with Shaquille O’Neal in Orlando, while Del Harris was replaced in Lakerland after just over two years with Kobe Bryant.
Louisiana native Sides, 47, previously served as an assistant with the Atlanta Dream and Chicago Scow, in addition to stints at the college level.
