Indiana Fever Shake-Up After Disappointing Season
In light of a discouraging first-round playoff exit, the Indiana Fever are making significant changes in their front office, including the dismissal of general manager Amber Cox.
Multiple sources informed The Athletic that the Fever have decided to part ways with Cox, though they requested anonymity to maintain their connections.
This decision coincided with an announcement from team president Kelly Krauskopf, who revealed she would be stepping down from her position. Krauskopf had made this decision before the conclusion of the 2026 regular season. She had previously returned to the Fever after a stint in the Pacers’ front office beginning in 2018.
In a statement, Krauskopf expressed her gratitude: “It has been an honor and a privilege to help build and steward the Indiana Fever with the support and trust of Herb Simon. I am deeply grateful for the opportunities, relationships, and shared accomplishments that have shaped my time with this organization. The Fever is poised for an exciting future, and I am proud to have helped lay the foundation for its continued growth and success. I will always cherish my time with Pacers Sports and Entertainment and the people who made it so meaningful.”
One of Krauskopf’s notable decisions during her tenure was hiring Cox from the Dallas Wings front office. Under their leadership, the roster was reshaped around key players such as Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston, and Caitlin Clark in the 2024 offseason. Unfortunately, injuries plagued the team, preventing these stars from frequently playing together. Nevertheless, the Fever managed to reach the semi-finals of the playoffs, even pushing the eventual champions, the Aces, to overtime in a decisive Game 5.
This offseason proved challenging for the Fever as they missed out on several free agency opportunities. After grappling with the changes brought by the new CBA, the Fever secured various contracts that didn’t pan out, most notably a two-year deal worth $1.6 million for Monique Billings, alongside sizable contracts for Tyasha Harris ($400,000) and Myisha Hines-Allen ($315,000).
By the end of the season, none of these players were starters and had to settle for short stints off the bench. Once again, the Fever were eliminated by the Aces in the playoffs, this time in the first round.
The upcoming offseason is poised to be critical for Indiana. Mitchell is heading into unrestricted free agency, which is a concern as the Fever won’t be able to utilize the core player mechanism that had helped retain her in previous years. Meanwhile, Clark is also eligible for an EPIC extension, similar to the one Boston received last offseason.
All eyes will now be on head coach Stephanie White, who was appointed by Krauskopf and Cox during their first offseason. While White has significant support from Clark, it’s evident that the organization is undergoing substantial changes ahead of a vital offseason.
