AWNBA analyst predicts Stephanie White to be a revelation for the Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark, as she prepares for her first season in charge at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Previously the boss of the Connecticut Sun, the 47-year-old was voted Coach of the Year in 2023, and led the Sun to the Second Round of the WNBA Playoffs a year later with a 28-12 record.
A highly rated coach, she has a 92-56 record (.622) across her entire career, which also includes a previous stint with the Fever from 2015-16; who she led to the WNBA Finals against the Minnesota Lynx.
Now she’s back in Indianapolis and Chauny Powell tips her to be a big improvement for Clark, whilst also saying she wasn’t particularly keen of Christie Sides‘ coaching methods.
“We’re hearing the cerebral part of the game discussed more,” Powell said to the Ball Up Top podcast. “We’re seeing the chess match unfold.
“When I said, ‘She’s [Sides] not “it”‘, it was based on two years of seeing things that should not have been happening in the first place. She didn’t really want the position like that anyway. Lin (Dunn) has to convince her.
“Now, you see somebody that has ties to the franchise, that wants to be there. That sees the potential in the pieces, the young core.”
Sides had joined the Fever in 2022 and was tasked with restoring the franchise to the WNBA Playoffs for the first time since White left in 2016, something she did manage to accomplish in 2024.
Ultimately she departed the organization with a 33-47 record (.325 in 2023; .500 in 2024) on November 1, 2024 and so far, the 48-year-old hasn’t announced the next steps in her career.
“We are incredibly thankful to Coach Sides,” said Fever President of Basketball Operations Kelly Krauskopf. “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.
“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.”
Christie Sides next job: Where could the ex-Fever coach go?
Prior to being given the gig at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse, she had exclusively worked as an assistant through high school and collegiate basketball; as well as in the WNBA with the Chicago Sky, Fever and Atlanta Dream.
Fans should not be too surprised if she returns to her seemingly preferred role as an assistant coach, with college basketball offering her a chance to escape the media spotlight.
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