The WNBA offseason has barely begun, and already, 33% of the league’s head coaches have been fired. The most recent casualty is Latricia Trammell of the Dallas Wings. Trammell’s dismissal came as no surprise, following her 31-49 record over two seasons. Her firing, along with others, highlights a season full of underperformance, controversy, and change for some of the league’s most prominent teams.
The Wings, despite showing promise by winning a playoff series, couldn’t escape injury woes that led to their eventual exit. Players like Arike Ogunbowale and Satou Sabally missed crucial games, leaving Trammell with a depleted roster for much of the season. Still, the team finished 22-18 and narrowly advanced in the postseason. Despite these struggles, critics argue that Trammell didn’t deserve the axe, as her tenure provided Dallas with a fighting chance and even positioned them well for future success, particularly in next year’s draft, where they could land phenom Paige Bueckers. However, it seems Dallas has grown impatient, marking their sixth coaching change in just eight years—a cycle of instability that raises concerns for long-term growth.
Curt Miller Firing: The Biggest Shock of All?
One of the most surprising developments came with the firing of Curt Miller, a two-time WNBA Coach of the Year. His removal has left many in disbelief, considering his past accolades and success. While Miller’s dismissal can be debated, the exits of other coaches, such as Tanisha Wright and Theresa Weatherspoon, have also sparked conversation.
Weatherspoon’s exit, in particular, has garnered mixed reactions. While many praised her for overachieving with the Chicago Sky, others criticized her for failing to fully develop young stars like Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. Despite leading Reese to confidence early in the season, her reliance on the young forward for 15 shots a game on inefficient shooting led to growing frustrations. Cardoso, on the other hand, remained a vastly underutilized weapon despite leading the league in efficiency. The failure to balance development with winning was a contributing factor in her departure.
Christie Sides: A Controversial Holdout
While coaches are being fired left and right, one name remains shockingly still on the WNBA coaching landscape—Christie Sides of the Indiana Fever. Despite leading the Fever to a better season than their disastrous 2022 campaign, Sides has faced her share of criticism. Known for revamping a broken franchise and establishing some much-needed discipline, her shortcomings on the X’s and O’s have become glaringly apparent.
Sides’ questionable tactics, like relegating Caitlin Clark to a decoy role in key moments and often slowing down the game when the Fever thrived in transition, have left fans scratching their heads. The Fever won just 13 games this season, and many believe the team’s ceiling is much higher with a more tactically sound coach. Sides, who was tasked with stabilizing the franchise, seems to have reached her ceiling in that regard, but critics argue that it’s time for Indiana to think bigger.
Though Sides managed to improve the culture in Indiana, she isn’t seen as the long-term solution. While she did bring out the best in some players, her shortcomings in game management and inability to elevate the team when it mattered most are concerns that weigh heavily on the franchise’s future. The Fever, now equipped with top talent like Aaliyah Boston, need a coach who can take them to the next level—and it’s hard to argue that Christie Sides is that person.
Will Indiana Finally Get Serious?
Indiana’s approach in retaining Sides suggests a team not fully committed to immediate success. Some fans speculate that the Fever are intentionally waiting to make a splash in free agency or the draft before hiring a top-tier coach. Others see it as a glaring error, pointing out that if they were serious about contending for a title in 2025, Sides would already be out of a job.
The league’s coaching carousel has spun wildly this offseason, with many respected names falling off. Yet, Christie Sides remains. Whether this is a sign of faith from the Fever or a symptom of larger problems remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that other franchises—like Dallas, Chicago, and Los Angeles—are not waiting around to make serious changes. Indiana, meanwhile, continues to baffle fans with their choice to stick with a coach who doesn’t seem poised to lead a championship contender.
What’s Next for the WNBA?
With an unprecedented 33% of coaches already let go, it’s clear that WNBA teams are not afraid to make bold moves. As more teams chase greatness, the pressure will only mount for franchises like Indiana to follow suit. With more talent entering the league every year, including potential game-changers like Paige Bueckers, teams need to ask themselves: are they building for the future or stuck in the past?
As the league heads into the 2024 offseason, the eyes of the basketball world will be on franchises like the Wings and Fever. Will Dallas finally find the coach that can bring stability to the franchise? Will Indiana get serious about contending, or continue to tread water? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the WNBA coaching landscape is rapidly changing, and not everyone will survive the upheaval.
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