Indiana Fever president Kelly Krauskopf steps down as GM Amber Cox is reportedly fired
The Fever announced Krauskopf’s departure on October 23. The Associated Press separately reported Cox’s firing, citing a person familiar with the move.
The Indiana Fever announced on October 23 that president of basketball and business operations Kelly Krauskopf would step down. Hours later, the Associated Press reported that the WNBA team had fired general manager Amber Cox, citing a person familiar with the move. The changes put Indiana’s basketball leadership in flux ahead of decisions involving Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell.
The Fever had not made Cox’s departure public when AP’s source spoke to the agency. The person requested anonymity for that reason. The Athletic first reported Cox’s departure, according to AP; the agency also cited its own person familiar with the move.
Krauskopf’s departure and Cox’s reported firing
Krauskopf said she decided to leave before the end of the 2026 regular season. In a statement released by the team, she thanked owner Herb Simon for his trust and described her time with the organisation as an honour and a privilege. She said she was proud to have helped lay the foundation for the Fever’s future.
Krauskopf returned to the Fever presidency in 2024 after moving to the Indiana Pacers’ front office in 2018. One of her major moves on returning was hiring Cox from the Dallas Wings’ front office. Cox joined the Fever in 2024 as both general manager and chief operating officer, according to AP.
Cox succeeded Lin Dunn as general manager when Dunn moved into an advisory role with the organisation. Before joining Indiana, Cox had been chief operating officer of the Dallas Wings and Phoenix Mercury and vice president of sports for the Connecticut Sun, AP reported.
Roster decisions facing the Fever
The leadership changes come after Indiana lost to the Las Vegas Aces in the first round of the 2026 playoffs. The Fever had reached the semifinals the previous season, taking the eventual champion Aces to overtime in a deciding fifth game. Injuries had limited the time Clark, Mitchell and Aliyah Boston played together that year, SB Nation reported.
Indiana now faces an offseason with Mitchell set to become an unrestricted free agent. AP reported that Clark is eligible for an extension under the WNBA’s EPIC provision, which lets certain players on rookie-scale contracts renegotiate their final year early and sign multiyear deals. Boston signed an EPIC extension last offseason.
Cox held her front-office roles as the Fever drew record crowds at home and on the road following Clark’s arrival as the No. 1 draft pick in 2024, AP reported. The team also set viewership records during that period. The reported departure would leave a vacancy in the role overseeing basketball decisions at a consequential point for the roster.
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Sources and context
- Fever president Kelly Krauskopf steps down, GM Amber Cox reportedly fired in major organizational shakeupCBS Sports; its Cox account credits The Athletic
- Indiana Fever fire GM Amber Cox, AP source saysAssociated Press, republished by Yahoo Sports
- Indiana Fever fire general manager Amber Cox amid front office shakeupSB Nation, republished by Yahoo Sports; Cox report relies on The Athletic
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.