The Seattle Storm aren't the only team in the WNBA looking for a new coach, but the team could end up being an enticing landing spot for one of the Indiana Fever's own: assistant coach Briann January.
January is rounding out her first season in Indiana and is no stranger to interviewing for head coaching roles (or, at least, those are the rumors). Stephanie White has already touted January (as well as assistant coach Austin Kelly) as being head coach material, an opinion that is shared throughout the league.
"When you look at Austin and you look at Bri, both of them are ready to be head coaches in this league," White told reporters of the pair, who took over for her earlier this season for two games (during which the Fever won against the Chicago Sky, but lost to the Golden State Valkyries). She added, "We're very fortunate that we have them on our staff."
There are four coaching positions open in the WNBA with the Storm, the Liberty, the Tempo, and the Fire. January's name is popping up in relation to all four. While it's possible the Liberty would be interested in taking a chance and upgrading January from assistant to head coach for the franchise, the team has someone in house who may be better suited for the job.
The Storm are an interesting landing spot for January primarily because the team is on the cusp of making a push back toward greatness — they just need the right person to lead. As expansion teams, both the Tempo and Fire would benefit enormously from someone with January's history and experience.
Brianna January played in the WNBA for 14 years
January is no stranger to the league. She enjoyed her own 14-year career in the W after being drafted as the No. 6 overall pick by the Fever in the 2009 WNBA Draft. January averaged 6.9 points per game during her rookie season with the team, and played for Indiana for nine seasons in total before she was traded to the Phoenix Mercury in 2018 for a top 10 draft pick.
January played alongside Fever legend Tamika Catchings, and the move to the Mercury teamed her up with Diana Taurasi. She played for several teams overseas, and was an assistant coach for the Connecticut Sun under Stephanie White in 2023.
She comes highly recommended by, well, everyone
In addition to what White had to say, January has also received high praise from the athletes she's worked with. In July Caitlin Clark told The Indianapolis Star that January was one of the people who helped her the most through her own injuries this season.
"Coach Bri, she's been through injuries herself, and she's always kind of just been there," Clark explained. "Even if I'm in the weight room extra after practice, like she'll come in there and and talk to me and just help me work through the extra lifting that I have to do, because she's experienced those type of things as a player, and she kind of knows how it goes, and knows that those days can get long. So I really appreciate her."