Indiana Fever fire Christie Sides — could Stephanie White be her replacement?

Photo by Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images

The Connecticut Sun head coach could be headed back to the state where she began her basketball career.

The WNBA coach firing spree continued on Sunday morning, with the Indiana Fever announcing they have parted ways with head coach Christie Sides after two seasons. Sides helped lead the Fever to a 20-20 record and the organization’s first playoff berth since 2016.

“We are incredibly thankful to Coach Sides for embracing the challenge of leading us through an integral transition period over the last two seasons, while also positioning us well for future growth,” said Fever President of Basketball Operations Kelly Krauskopf.

Sides becomes the sixth WNBA head coach to be fired this offseason, meaning that nearly half of the league’s teams currently have head coaching vacancies.

The Los Angeles Sparks let Curt Miller go on September 24th, and the Chicago Sky fired Teresa Weatherspoon just a few days later. In October alone, the Atlanta Dream fired Tanisha Wright, the Dallas Wings fired Latricia Trammell, and the Mystics fired Eric Thibault. In addition, the Aces, Wings, and Mystics all now have general manager vacancies. It’s also possible that more announcements are in store.

In the official press release, the Fever reiterated the desire to win a championship.

“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,” said Krauskopf. “Coach Sides was an incredible representative of the Fever and our community, and we wish her nothing but success in the future.”

A few hours after her firing was announced, Sides turned to Twitter to respond, simply writing: “Leave it better than you found it.”

The Christie Sides dismissal does not come as a shock largely because of the fact it was previously reported by the Annie Costabile of the Chicago Sun-Times that Connecticut Sun head coach Stephanie White was in conversation with both the Fever and the Sky about her future.

Of note, White’s roots in Indiana run deep. She grew up in the state and went to high school in West Lebanon, Indiana, before becoming a college basketball star star at Purdue. She’s also long been involved with the Fever organization; she played on the team from 2000 to 2004, and was an assistant on the Fever from 2011 to 2014, including when they won the championship in 2012.

In addition, joining the Fever would give her the chance to coach the previous two Rookie of the Years in Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston. White is also known for being a prolific defensive coach, which is the part of the game the Fever struggled with most last season.

At her end-of-season press conference, White did not address the rumors of her departure, explaining that she was in the midst of a family emergency that was taking priority.

“My priority is my family right now, honestly — just being here for my family, getting through this,” White said when asked about reports she was in talks with other franchises. “That’s my priority.”

White was the 2023 Coach of the Year, and has led the Sun to a 55-25 record these past two seasons. But, her contract runs through the 2025 season. Still, Costabile reports that despite the contract situation, White is poised to have the option to leave if she so choses.

“Many are wondering how that can be when White is under contract with the Sun through the 2025 season,” writes Costabile. “The explanation is simple: White is the best coach in the league, and candidates of her caliber will always have options.”

The Fever would likely have to offer a significant salary to lure White to Indiana. As it currently stands, both the Las Vegas Aces’ Becky Hammon and the Phoenix Mercury’s Nate Tibbetts make seven-figure salaries as two of the league’s highest-paid coaches.

Hiring decisions will likely be made in the next few weeks, with the draft lottery coming up on November 17th, and the Golden State Valkyries expansion draft coming up on December 6th. Right now, it remains to be seen whether coaches will largely be reshuffled, or whether a new slew of head coaches will get their opportunity.