Indiana Fever president of basketball and business operations Kelly Krauskopf is stepping down from her roles with the organization, the team announced Friday. A succession plan is not immediately clear and Fever general manager Amber Cox remains in her role. "It has been an honor and a privilege to help build and steward the Indiana Fever with the support and trust of Herb Simon," Krauskopf said in a press release.
"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." Krauskopf was the Fever's original president and general manager for their inaugural season in 2000, and remained in that role until 2018, when the Indiana Pacers hired her as their assistant general manager and she became the first woman in NBA history to hold an executive basketball management role.
During her first stint with the Fever, Krauskopf built one of the most consistent organizations in the league. The Fever made the playoffs 13 times in her 19 seasons, including 12 consecutive seasons from 2005-16, which remains a WNBA record. Under Krauskopf's leadership, the Fever won their first and only title in 2012, and also reached the Finals in 2009 and 2015.
Krauskopf returned to the Fever in 2024, just as Caitlin Clark arrived and the franchise's worldwide popularity exploded. The Fever made the playoffs in each of the last three seasons, but never advanced past the semifinals, and Krauskopf and Cox have both faced criticism for failing to build a better team around Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell. Off the court in her second tenure, Krauskopf helped oversee the development of the Fever's new $78 million sports performance center, which will open in March.
"When we started the Fever, Kelly saw what this franchise could become," Fever and Pacers owner Herb Simon said. "She built it, delivered a championship and came back when we needed her. She has played an extraordinary role in the growth of women's basketball in Indianapolis, and our family is grateful for everything she's given this organization.
I'm proud to call her a friend." The biggest immediate questions center on the Fever's front office and leadership. If not, and they hire a new president from outside the organization, will that person want to bring in their own GM to replace Cox? Could a new president even want to completely clean house and fire coach Stephanie White?
Extract — continue reading at the source.
