Christie Sides took the high road after being fired by the Fever on Sunday.
“Leave it better than you found it.✌🏼,” she tweeted that afternoon.
The Fever only afforded Sides two seasons guiding the franchise, including one season with 2024 No. 1 pick Caitlin Clark, before dismissing her Sunday.
As she mentioned in her tweet, Sides did help the franchise improve.
The former Louisiana Tech star inherited a 5-31 team and helped Indiana to a 13-27 record in 2023 and then to 20-20 this past season.
The Fever experienced some early growing pains, but Clark and the team improved and rallied from a 1-8 start to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
The Sun swept sixth-seeded Indiana in the first round of the playoffs.
Even as Indiana showed growth, questions lingered about whether Sides would be the one who could get the most out of Clark and fellow No. 1 pick Aliyah Boston.
The proverbial writing on the wall came in the form of a recent report indicating the Fever had been discussing their coaching job with Sun head coach Stephanie White.
White is now the favorite to be Indiana’s next coach, per the Chicago Sun-Times.
Sides finished 33-47 in her tenure.
The Fever thanked Sides in a statement.
“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 in a statement.“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.
“Coach Sides was an incredible representative of the Fever and our community, and we wish her nothing but success in the future.”
White — or whoever the Fever choose — will inherit an ascending team with 15/1 odds to win the WNBA title next season, the sixth-best odds in the league.
