The Indiana Fever entered the 2026 season with championship expectations, but they fell well short of that goal. Despite a franchise-record 28 wins during the regular season behind WNBA superstars Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana finished sixth in the standings and was eliminated by the Las Vegas Aces in the first round of the playoffs. The organization responded immediately, with team president Kelly Krauskopf stepping down soon after, and general manager Amber Cox later being dismissed.
Meanwhile, head coach Stephanie White is expected to keep her role for next season, despite a large majority of the fanbase pushing for a coaching change after another disappointing finish. The Fever have now made their first big front office addition since the departures of Krauskopf and Cox, hiring former WNBA player and Portland Trail Blazers scouting manager Sheri Sam as assistant general manager. According to the Indianapolis Star, Sam will focus on scouting, analytics, player evaluation, and identifying talent.
More news: Anthony Edwards Faces Brutal $304 Million Blow After Knee Injury Sam brings a valuable combination of playing experience, championship pedigree, and professional scouting knowledge to Indiana. She spent 10 seasons in the WNBA, including a stint with the Fever in 2007, and won two championships, one with the Seattle Storm in 2004 and another with the Detroit Shock in 2008. Before turning professional, she starred at Vanderbilt, where she was a two-time All-SEC selection and a 1996 Kodak All-American.
After retiring, Sam moved into basketball operations and most recently worked in the NBA as the Trail Blazers' scouting manager, focusing on player evaluation and pre-draft scouting. Now with the Fever, she's expected to work closely with both the scouting and coaching staffs, with her immediate attention turning to the upcoming women's college basketball season. More news: NBA Insider Makes Eye-Opening Admission About Cooper Flagg and LeBron James More news: Rick Pitino Says College Basketball Is the Best It’s Been in 20 Years The hire is part of Indiana's effort to strengthen its talent evaluation and build a better foundation around Clark, Boston, and Mitchell.
Her experience could help Indiana make better decisions in the draft, free agency, and player development. The team still hasn't appointed a new general manager, but Sam is a good first step to helping build a deeper, more well-rounded roster.
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