Despite the Indiana Fever having their best regular season since 2016 with a trip to the WNBA playoffs, their head coach Christie Sides was fired on Sunday. This came as a surprise since their former GM Lin Dunn had emphasized keeping the team stable, acknowledging that four coaches had been a part of the Fever franchise for the past seven years. But with Sides’ firing, Indiana once again sent signals that they weren’t satisfied, despite a season that many would define successful. Hence, a heartbroken Sides posted a message on X that might be her point of view towards the recent incident.

On Sunday, Sides tweeted “Leave it better than you found it.✌🏼.” This was done just within hours after the Fever announced that Sides would no longer serve as the head coach. Notably, the statement looked apt when compared with the Fever’s performances. The Indiana-based franchise had a 45-147 record in the six seasons before Sides took over as coach and since her hiring had made it to the playoffs, which added a feather to her cap.

After spending 2 years as an assistant with Indiana in 2018 and 19, Sides was selected to be the primary mentor in 2022. The Fever, during the previous season, had won just 5 games, losing 31. This got them the last place in the WNBA standings and also the first pick of the 2023 season: Aliyah Boston. Tasked with the work to again make the Fever a dominant franchise, Sides worked hard in her new role.

She showed improvement in the results but in phases. While June 2023 was a beneficial month for the Fever, July had an abysmal 1-9 tally. Sides battled all challenges thrown at her and at the end of 2023, the Fever had a .325 winning percentage which was the best since 2019. And then in 2024, Sides again gave the Indianapolis-based franchise a push.

In the 2024 WNBA draft, the Fever acquired Caitlin Clark, who became the main star of her team. She, along with Lexie Hull, Aliyah Boston, Katie Lou Samuelson, and Kelsey Mitchell among others helped the Fever qualify for the playoffs, for the first time since 2016. She herself also brought in the very first Coach of the Month honor for the franchise in August.

Though they were dealt with hard blows in Round 1, Sides accomplished something that had become a rarity in Indiana. But then why was Sides fired?

Christie Sides leaving the Indiana Fever could mean more growth

After the season ended, the Fever franchise as a whole looks to be going through some major changes. Firstly, Lin Dunn left her role as the General Manager to take on the position of Senior Advisor. Then Amber Cox was hired as the GM along with Kelly Krauskopf taking the role as the President. And with Sides’ firing, it looks as if the franchise going through some restructuring.

In a recent statement by Krauskopf, “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.”

Looks like the Fever management wants to repeat their heroics from 2012 when they won their first and only WNBA Championship title with Tamika Catchings at the helm. And why shouldn’t they? They have able stars in Clark and Boston, who have been the ROTY in their respective seasons.

Moreover, even the former head coach for the Iowa Hawkeyes had mentioned how she had to build a team around the No. 22, and that just might be what the Fever front office is planning to do. Plus with supporting players also emerging, it does provide them hope for tasting glory once again.

Hopefully, the Fever will soon make their plans clear by hiring a new head coach, and perhaps that would also set the tone for the next season. Till then, Clark & Co. can enjoy their offseason.