The Indiana Fever are searching for a new head coach following the departure of Christie Sides after only one season, sparking basketball fans to flood social media with suggestions for potential replacements.
WNBA fans believe they’ve found the ideal new coach for Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever following the departure of Christie Sides. The franchise parted ways with the 47-year-old after a 20-20 season that led the Fever to their first playoff appearance since 2016. In a statement, Fever president of basketball operations Kelly Krauskopf expressed gratitude for Coach Sides’ leadership, noting, “We are incredibly thankful to Coach Sides for embracing the challenge of guiding us through an important transition period over the past two seasons and for setting us up for future growth.”
“Although decisions like these are always challenging, it’s crucial that we stay bold and proactive in achieving our goals, including maximizing our talent and bringing another WNBA championship to Indiana. Coach Sides was a fantastic representative of the Fever and our community, and we wish her only success in her future endeavors.”
Despite Clark enjoying a whirlwind maiden season as a WNBA rookie, breaking a number of all-time records before being named the league’s Rookie of the Year, a number of fans of the sport criticised Sides for failing to fully capitalise on the 22-year-old’s talents. And as Connecticut Sun has just released Stephanie White, many WNBA followers have admitted that she may be the best fit to coach Clark and the Fever to greatness.
One social media user shared on X, “Sides faced unfair criticism; she actually did a solid job and led a strong offense last year. But I can’t blame the Fever for seeking an upgrade if Stephanie White is on the market.”
“She’s going to elevate that team; it’s the perfect hire for them,” one fan commented. Another chimed in, “Yep, that’s exactly how I feel. If that’s the choice, it’s definitely an upgrade.”
Another fan enthusiastically wrote, “It’s official—the Indiana Fever has the best front office, the best point guard, and they’re on the hunt for the next best coach (Stephanie White, it’s your time to shine, come home!). BRUH, WE’RE COMING FOR THIS CHAMPIONSHIP NEXT YEAR—LFG!!!”
If White were to sign a new contract with the Fever, it would mark a familiar return. She played for the team from 2000 to 2004, then came back as an assistant coach in 2011. Promoted to head coach in 2015, she led the Fever to the WNBA Finals in her first two seasons.
White later took on the head coach role at Vanderbilt in 2016, where she spent five seasons before joining the Connecticut Sun in 2023. That same year, she was honored as WNBA Coach of the Year and also earned the WNBA All-Star Game head coach title.
