The Indiana Fever parted ways with general manager Amber Cox on Friday, just hours after team president Kelly Krauskopf announced she was stepping down. The dual exits leave the franchise without its top two basketball executives heading into a critical offseason.
Cox, who also served as chief operating officer, joined the organization in October 2024. Multiple outlets first reported her firing, and the team later confirmed the departure. Pacers Sports & Entertainment, the parent company that oversees the Fever, said it will conduct a national search for her replacement.
“Through her two seasons with the Fever, Amber has helped us navigate the seismic growth of both the WNBA and our franchise,” Mel Raines, president and CEO of Pacers Sports & Entertainment, said in a statement.
“We’re grateful for her contributions and wish her the very best moving forward.”
The changes come after a season in which the Fever finished 28-16, setting a franchise record for regular-season wins, yet landed as the No. 6 seed and lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Las Vegas Aces. That result fell short of the championship hopes the team carried into the year.
Under Cox, Indiana compiled a combined 52-36 regular-season record across two seasons and reached the playoffs both times. The 2025 squad advanced to the semifinals before falling to the Aces in five games despite significant injuries. This year’s first-round exit marked a step back.
The Fever fielded the highest-scoring offense in WNBA history during the 2026 regular season, averaging 96.0 points per game to rank first among 15 teams. The attack, led by All-Stars Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston, overwhelmed most opponents.
Mitchell finished second in the league in scoring at 24.7 points per game, a career high. Clark ranked among the top three in scoring and second in assists. Individual production, however, did not translate into a longer postseason run.
Defensively, the team struggled. Indiana allowed 90.4 points per game and ranked near the bottom of the league in defensive efficiency. Those shortcomings proved decisive in the playoff series against the Aces.
Several offseason additions did not deliver as hoped. Monique Billings, Myisha Hines-Allen and Tyasha Harris joined the roster but failed to meaningfully improve depth or defense. Sophie Cunningham, signed ahead of the 2025 season, also drew league-wide attention for public comments on transgender athletes in women’s sports.
The vacancies arrive at a pivotal time. Mitchell is an unrestricted free agent after her breakout year. Clark is eligible for an extension under the league’s EPIC provision, which allows certain young players to renegotiate early. Boston already signed a multiyear deal last season.
Sources indicate head coach Stephanie White is expected to remain for now. White, in her second stint with the franchise, guided the team to the 52-36 mark and has one year remaining on her contract. She has expressed interest in returning.
During Cox’s tenure, the Fever became one of the league’s most visible teams, driven by Clark’s arrival as the No. 1 overall pick in 2024. Attendance and viewership records followed, yet on-court results never fully matched the regular-season totals.
A new general manager will inherit a core built around three All-Stars that still needs additional pieces to advance deeper into the playoffs. Free-agent decisions and roster upgrades will shape the 2027 outlook.
The organization has not announced a timeline for filling the president and general manager roles. With the WNBA Finals still underway, the Fever begin their offseason under new leadership.
