The Indiana Fever dismissed general manager Amber Cox and accepted team president Kelly Krauskopf’s departure on October 23, 2026, launching a major front-office shake-up following a first-round playoff exit while head coach Stephanie White is expected to remain in her role.
The Indiana Fever executed a sweeping front-office overhaul on October 23, 2026, parting ways with general manager and chief operating officer Amber Cox just hours after team president Kelly Krauskopf announced her departure as changes in Indianapolis continued on a Friday afternoon.
Kelly Krauskopf will step down as team president, closing an extraordinary chapter in a career of nearly three decades with PS&E in which she built the Fever from its founding, delivered the franchise’s first WNBA championship, and helped open doors for women across professional… pic.twitter.com/lL3fcPW3is
The simultaneous exits arrived between Games 3 and 4 of the WNBA Finals, roughly a month after the team’s 2026 season ended with a first-round playoff loss to the Las Vegas Aces. Despite boasting a franchise-record 28 wins and the league’s highest-scoring offense in 2026, the Fever finished 28-16 and bowed out as the sixth seed for the third consecutive season.
Kelly Krauskopf Leaves After Nearly Three Decades
Krauskopf, 64, leaves after nearly three decades of service with Pacers Sports & Entertainment. Having helped establish the Fever when the franchise joined the WNBA in 1999, she served as president and general manager until 2017, overseeing 13 playoff appearances, three WNBA Finals berths, and the franchise’s 2012 championship. After spending six years on the NBA side as assistant general manager of the Indiana Pacers—becoming the first woman to hold an executive basketball management role in NBA history—Krauskopf returned to the Fever as president of basketball and business operations in 2024.
A pivotal offseason for the Fever now includes a leadership change: President Kelly Krauskopf is stepping down. Her departure comes as Indiana moves toward the March 2027 opening of its $78M practice facility.MORE: https://t.co/DDqHBn9TDP pic.twitter.com/tafnA391HJ
It has been an honor and a privilege to help build and steward the Indiana Fever with the support and trust of Herb Simon.
Cox joined the organization in 2024 to replace Lin Dunn, coming from her role as chief operating officer for the Dallas Wings. During her two-year tenure overseeing roster construction around Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell, the Fever compiled a 52-36 overall record and went 5-6 in the postseason with a 5-6 playoff record. Mel Raines, president and CEO of PS&E, issued a statement regarding the outgoing executive.
Stephanie White expected to remain Fever head coach, per @ItsMeghanLHall. https://t.co/PeRNiDjr1N
Cox Faces Criticism over Roster Construction Choices
While Cox earned praise for managing six season-ending injuries during the 2025 campaign—bringing in midseason replacements like Odyssey Sims, Aerial Powers, and Shey Peddy to help fuel an improbable run to the WNBA semifinals—several major roster decisions drew criticism. In 2025, the team signed veteran DeWanna Bonner to a $200,000 contract, but the fit proved unsuccessful, resulting in Bonner appearing in just nine games before her release. Offseason acquisitions ahead of 2026, including Monique Billings, Myisha Hines-Allen, and Tyasha Harris, also failed to yield the expected postseason impact.
On the court, the team’s individual offensive production was historic. Mitchell set a WNBA single-season scoring record with 1,086 points across 44 games, averaging 24.7 points while shooting 51% from the field. Mitchell and Clark finished second and third in regular-season scoring, respectively, and Clark placed second in assists, averaging 22.3 points and 8.3 assists per game. Yet defensive struggles persisted, and the roster failed to advance past the opening round of the playoffs.
Stephanie White Expected to Return for 2027
Despite vocal fan dissatisfaction and calls for a complete coaching overhaul across social media platforms, head coach Stephanie White is expected to remain in her position for the 2027 season. Sources with direct knowledge of the discussions confirmed that White retains her role.
Friction points during the season included occasional visible on-court frustrations between Clark and the coaching staff, such as a substitution during the playoff series against Las Vegas. Despite these moments, Clark praised her coach following the team’s postseason exit.
We have announced the departure of COO and GM Amber Cox. pic.twitter.com/REa1DKNdTm
I really appreciate Steph. This is, I like to say, the best job in women’s basketball, and possibly women’s sports. Getting to lead this franchise that has so much notoriety. But at the same time, it can come with some negatives, and people are gonna criticize everything that you do, and that’s just reality, and people expect greatness.
Indiana Faces Consequential Free Agency for Key Players
Indiana faces an unusually consequential free agency period and roster valuation cycle. Kelsey Mitchell enters the offseason as an unrestricted free-agent guard after being selected second overall by the franchise in the 2018 WNBA Draft. Mitchell noted at the close of the season that she intends to evaluate her options across the league to determine the best path forward for herself and her family, highlighting the intense media spotlight and external pressures of playing in Indianapolis.
Indiana Fever team president Kelly Krauskopf is stepping down following the 2026 season. "The Fever is poised for an exciting future, and I am proud to have helped lay the foundation for its continued growth and success," she said in a statment. (https://t.co/r48kBJFb1F) pic.twitter.com/Qg2QmWTBud
Meanwhile, Clark is eligible for a projected $1.7 million contract subject to eligibility and salary limits. Clark indicated she intends to remain in Indiana regardless of the immediate extension timeline.
Pacers Sports and Entertainment announced it will conduct a national search to name a new general manager.
More on Amber Cox
Amber Cox is out as the Fever’s GM.The leadership shakeup in Indiana is in full swing.Here’s what we also know about the future of head coach Stephanie White:https://t.co/g4YiM00HzJ
BREAKING: Major changes in Indianapolis.Indiana Fever COO and GM Amber Cox is OUT, effective immediately.Team president Kelly Krauskopf is stepping down.Two of the most powerful positions in the franchise are changing hands on the SAME DAY.The Caitlin Clark era is…