Despite second-year head coach Christie Sides being a big part of the Indiana Fever reaching the WNBA playoffs for the first time since 2016 in the 2024 season, Indiana decided to fire Sides Sunday.

This decision came as a shock for several reasons. One is the new Fever President of Basketball Operations, Kelly Krauskopf gave Sides much praise earlier this month, saying: “I think the outside noise, what he’s had to endure as a coach … it takes time. It took a long time for the teams we had to get together… it takes a few years. So I was very impressed with the (fever) progress made and how Christie is a resilient leader.

“She’s a culture builder. I know she has that kind of resilience to … stick to her plan and she’s a good person and a great leader, and I was impressed with the way they finished,” Krauskopf concluded Indiana Fever press conference.

Krauskopf was the member of the Indiana office who issued a statement regarding Sides’ firing Sunday.

It is not known how long this decision has been in the works. Regardless, Sides taken to X to send a clear message about job loss immediately after being notified.

“Leave it better than you found it. ,” Sides wrote.

The general belief is that the Fever must be close to bringing in the current head coach from the Connecticut Sun Stephanie White steps in for Sideswhich would transform Fever in immediate contenders for 2025 WNBA championship.

Given Sides’ success in Indiana, it’s possible she’ll land another coaching job soon, either in college or in the WNBA.