Historical past will say {that a} new period for the Indiana Fever started on April 15, 2024.
That, in fact, was the evening that the franchise, who had yearned for any semblance of latest success, drafted Caitlin Clark No.1. Right away, the whole lot modified.
One other date — one six months later — will now mark a virtually as important second. Oct. 27, 2024, will probably be sign-posted because the day by which the Fever formally parted methods with head coach Christie Sides after solely two seasons. The Clark period remains to be right here, however the franchise’s path modified.
Kelly Krauskopf, the just lately employed Fever president of basketball operations, appeared to say as a lot in her assertion concerning Sides’ dismissal. Sides was employed by Lin Dunn, who moved into an advisory position after the 2024 season. Sides went 33-47 in two years. Krauskopf referred to Sides’ tenure as an “integral transition interval.”
Krauskopf added, “It is usually crucial that we stay daring and assertive within the pursuit of our targets, which incorporates maximizing our expertise and bringing one other WNBA championship again to Indiana.”
Daring and assertive. These two phrases seem to outline the Fever’s new path the Fever. They’re now not transitioning. They’re pondering massive.
Now we have parted methods with head coach Christie Sides.
Extra: pic.twitter.com/Ja5S3uGPOb
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) October 27, 2024
Even with Clark and 2023 No. 1 choose Aliyah Boston main the franchise, the objective for final season was to make the playoffs. Dunn was clear about her wishes to snap a seven-year drought. Clearly now, after Clark’s record-setting rookie season, expectations are a lot larger. The Fever are eyeing their first title since 2012.
A transcendent star accelerates timelines.
Within the NBA, LeBron James’ first head coach (Paul Silas) coached James for simply the primary season-and-a-half of James’ time in Cleveland. Michael Jordan’s first coach (Kevin Loughery) coached MJ for just one yr. Within the WNBA, Candace Parker’s first skilled coach (Michael Cooper) lasted simply two seasons with the star ahead. Similar with Diana Taurasi’s first coach, Carrie Graf. Dunn drafted and coached Sue Chicken throughout Chicken’s first season out of UConn. However by Chicken’s second yr, Anne Donovan paced the Storm sideline.
Add Sides to the listing of coaches who have been employed for a developmental job, thrown into one other and have been made a casualty in consequence.
The Fever are led by Clark. However with Sunday’s resolution, they’re Krauskopf’s franchise, too. Krauskopf initially led the staff from 2000 till 2018, when she left to change into the Pacers assistant normal supervisor and the primary girl in NBA historical past to carry an government basketball administration position. She beforehand made the postseason 13 instances and performed in three WNBA finals in seven years, together with capturing the 2012 WNBA title. A need to duplicate these successes is why she has returned.
Familiarity looks as if it should matter in Indiana’s teaching search. Which may imply attempting to poach present Connecticut Solar coach Stephanie White for one more reunion. In response to the Chicago Solar Instances, White remains to be beneath contract with the Solar however had latest talks with the Fever in regards to the head teaching position.
Krauskopf and White know one another nicely. White, an Indiana native and Purdue alum, performed for the Fever from 2000 to 2004. She was then an assistant coach from 2011 to 2014 and later coached the Fever in 2015 and 2016.
Now extensively thought to be one of many league’s high coaches, she has expertise and achieved latest success as she put in a brand new offense in Connecticut. She gained Coach of the 12 months in 2023, led the Fever to the 2015 finals, and has drawn greatness out of stars like Tamika Catchings and Alyssa Thomas. She would seemingly, in Krauskopf’s phrases, “maximize” Indiana’s expertise, which can also be anticipated to focus on veterans in free company to pair with Clark and Boston.
There have been apparent wants for enchancment beneath Sides. Protection and diversifying Clark’s shot effectivity are two of development areas for the following coach to deal with.
However the Fever’s resolution to half with Sides appears much less in regards to the player-coach relationship and extra about what Krauskopf thinks can occur with a participant (Clark) main the way in which. Sides and Clark repeatedly mentioned technique in addition to how Clark was dealing with strain on and off the courtroom. As final season progressed, Clark grew to become a simpler shooter and driver, and the Fever gained 9 of 14 video games after the All-Star break whereas Clark went on to cause them to the playoffs and win Rookie of the 12 months. Krauskopf even applauded Sides for this progress.
When Dunn was employed as GM, she mentioned she needed to get out of the lottery by her third season. She did that. Now beneath Krauskopf, now not are lottery events acceptable. Championship celebrations are the objective.
Clark and the Fever will probably be taking part in beneath a brand new coach and normal supervisor (Amber Cox) subsequent spring. The Fever are completed experimenting.
A star has once more accelerated a championship timeline. And a coach once more paid the worth.
(Photograph of Christie Sides and Caitlin Clark: Elsa / Getty Pictures)
