Fever's Christie Sides firing leads to absurd WNBA history

WNBA history was made on Sunday
Sep 22, 2024; Uncasville, Connecticut, USA; Indiana Fever head coach Christie Sides during game one of the first round of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs at Mohegan Sun Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark Smith-Imagn Images
Sep 22, 2024; Uncasville, Connecticut, USA; Indiana Fever head coach Christie Sides during game one of the first round of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs at Mohegan Sun Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark Smith-Imagn Images / Mark Smith-Imagn Images
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On Sunday, it was announced that the Indiana Fever parted ways with head coach Christie Sides. Sides was the Fever head coach for two years, but Indiana will now go in a different direction. The Fever are certainly not the only team that has parted ways with their head coach this offseason. According to Alexa Philippou of ESPN, six WNBA teams will have new head coaches to begin the 2025 season, something that has never happened before in the league's history. Philippou clarified that the six teams do not include the Golden State Valkyries.

Change is happening in the league. Almost half the league will have new head coaches in 2025, and the Valkyries, the WNBA expansion team, will have their first head coach in franchise history. Not every change was a firing, but regardless of whether it was mutual or a team decision, head coaching changes seem to be the trend this offseason.

WNBA teams that will have new head coaches in 2025

The Atlanta Dream, Chicago Sky, Dallas Wings, Los Angeles Sparks, Washington Mystics and the Fever are the six teams set for a head coaching change in 2025. Some of these teams endured miserable 2024 seasons, while others competed for a postseason spot.

The Fever's decision to move on from Sides was surprising after she led the team to the postseason while Indiana emerged as the most popular team in the WNBA amid Caitlin Clark's increasing popularity.

The fact that so many teams are deciding to hire new head coaches is surprising as well. Of the 12 teams that played in the WNBA in 2024, six will have a new head coach in 2025. It is rare to see any league where half of the teams make the decision to move on from their head coaches. So why is this happening?

There is not necessarily any specific reason for the trend. It just appears to be a situation where certain teams are looking for new leadership. It should be noted that there is more pressure than ever to contend given the WNBA's increase in popularity over the past year, so perhaps that is an element to consider.

There is a chance that more teams will move on from their head coaches this offseason as well. It will be a situation to closely monitor as the offseason continues.

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