Despite the Indiana Fever’s early playoff exit, their impressive run and recent leadership changes had sparked renewed optimism among fans. While Kelly Krauskopf returned as president, already generating excitement, questions remained about the future of head coach Christie Sides, especially with mounting calls for her removal. However, with Sides officially departing now, speculation about her successor is already swirling, and Stephanie White has emerged as a frontrunner. Adding fuel to the speculation is White’s admiration for Krauskopf, which has recently come to light.

The Indy Star Sports reporter, Chloe Peterson, highlighted an interview with Stephanie White that took place during the playoffs, shortly after the Indiana Fever announced Kelly Krauskopf’s return as president. When asked about the decision to bring Krauskopf back, White had nothing but praise for the president’s leadership. “Kelly certainly has been the architect of everything that’s gone on in the Indiana Fever franchise from day one,” stated White.

She hinted towards the fact that Krauskopf was one of the original members when the Fever launched in 2000. Krauskopf dedicated 18 years to the franchise as general manager and president, building the team’s foundation. Under her leadership, the Fever also secured its only championship in 2012.

Reflecting on the history Krauskopf has shared with Fever, White mentioned, “So for her to come back, I think it says how serious you know the organization in taking the next step and I think it shows Kelly’s love for the W right. Love and commitment to the W, Indiana Fever franchise. Certainly, there is no one better to usher in the Fever into this next era than Kelly.”

Well, this comes naturally as White shares a strong history with Krauskopf herself. When the Fever first joined the WNBA in 2000, White was among the names on their inaugural roster and went on to play four seasons with the team. Even more notably, it was Krauskopf who gave White her first major coaching opportunity, appointing her as the Fever’s head coach in 2015.

With recent reports hinting that White may not return as head coach of the Connecticut Sun next season, her longstanding connection with Krauskopf and clear admiration for the Fever’s president only intensify the idea of White stepping into the Fever’s head coaching role, likely turning rumors into reality. Yet, this wave of speculation only arose because of the Fever’s recent decision to part ways with Christie Sides.

Indiana Fever announced Christie Sides’ departure

With Christie Sides guiding the Indiana Fever to their first playoff appearance in eight years, news of her departure came as both unexpected yet unsurprising. Sides, who joined the Fever in 2023, had just wrapped up her second season. Despite the ups and downs of her inaugural season, she led the team to a .325 winning percentage—the franchise’s best since 2019.

However, this season brought immense pressure for Christie Sides, especially with rising star Caitlin Clark on the roster. With a talent like Clark, the expectations were high for the Fever to launch the season in style. But things didn’t go as planned, as the team stumbled with five straight losses out of the gate. During this rough start, Sides faced scrutiny over some of her choices, including her rotation decisions and perceived underutilization of the team’s depth.

USA Today via Reuters

 “I don’t think it’s ever been the case in the WNBA up to this point; the pressure has been something we’ve just tried to manage and deal with and understand that we’ve got to keep everybody on the same page, understanding this is still a process like we can’t let the outside noise affect us,” Sides had said earlier. Yet, despite those challenges, Indiana turned things around, clinching a playoff spot.

While Sides helped Indiana regain some footing, management believes the Fever need a coach who can bring them all the way back to championship glory. So, they made the tough call to part ways with the Sides, hoping a fresh direction could lead to a second title. With the search for a new head coach underway, speculation is swirling that Stephanie White—former Fever player and head coach—might make her return, especially now with her longtime ally Kelly Krauskopf back at the helm as team president.