Six WNBA Head Coaches Have Officially Been Fired
10/28/2024 02:36 PM
Every league has coaching turnover in the offseason, but the WNBA is taking that to the extreme this year.
On Sunday, the Indiana Fever fired head coach Christie Sides after two seasons, making it six franchises who have dismissed their coaches since the end of the regular season. The WNBA only had 12 teams this year, so that means half of the league is looking for a new coach. With the W's 13th franchise, the Golden State Valkyries, set to begin play in 2025, more than half of the league will have a fresh face running things on the sideline next year.
Curt Miller of the Los Angeles Sparks was the first coach to get the axe back on Sept. 24. Two days later, the Chicago Sky surprisingly fired Teresa Weatherspoon after only one season at the helm.
On Oct. 2, the Atlanta Dream let go of Tanisha Wright following their elimination from the playoffs, with the Dallas Wings firing Latricia Trammel on Oct. 18.
The Washington Mystics were next up on Oct 23, firing Eric Thibault after two seasons, Mike Thibault, Eric's father and the team's general manager and former coach, was also dismissed.
Finally, the Fever ended the Sides era yesterday. Many Indiana fans wanted the team to do this after it started 1-8, but Sides was able to right the ship behind Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell to finish 20-20 and reach the playoffs.
In the end, that wasn't enough for her to keep her job in 2025. As of now, all six of these openings are still vacant.
As for the Valkyries, they named Natalie Nakase the first head coach in franchise history earlier this month.
Related: Christie Sides Has 7-Word Reaction To Getting Fired By The Fever