Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull spoke on Christie Sides’ firing in on Monday.
“It’s laborious. On this occupation, issues are so fluid,” Hull informed the Ringer’s Seerat Sohi on the newest episode of The Ringer WNBA present. “You by no means know what to anticipate, you by no means get snug. Heading into subsequent 12 months, this will likely be my fourth head coach in 4 years.”
Since Hull was drafted by the Fever in 2022, the franchise has been lead by three coaches — Marianne Stanley, Carlos Knox, and, most just lately Christie Sides. Hull performed beneath Sides for 2 seasons, through which the Fever accrued a 33-37 file.
“It’s a loopy job. I’m actually unhappy for Christie; I feel she’s an excellent individual and an excellent chief,” Hull mentioned. “I’m excited to see what she does sooner or later, and enthusiastic about the place our new coach will take us.”
Within the simply over a month, seven WNBA coaches have departed their franchise: Curt Miller (Los Angeles Sparks), Teresa Weatherspoon (Chicago Sky), Tanisha Wright (Atlanta Dream), Latricia Trammell (Dallas Wings), Eric Thibault (Washington Mystics), Christie Sides (Indiana Fever) and Stephanie White (Connecticut Solar).
As well as, the Las Vegas Aces, Wings, and Mystics all now have normal supervisor vacancies, with a really actual chance that further firings are within the works.
“It’s unlucky,” Hull mentioned. “Simply trying on the league — seven new head coaches, that’s an insane statistic. Groups are going to look so totally different. They’re going to play totally different. It’s an thrilling future for the league, but it surely’s unhappy to see some eras are ending.”
In the intervening time, it’s not but clear if numerous the identical coaches will likely be reshuffled to new franchises — or if a brand new crop of coaches will emerge. Stephanie White has been linked to Indiana, whereas who different groups may rent stays to be seen.
Because it at the moment stands, the one returning WNBA coaches are Becky Hammon (Las Vegas Aces), Cheryl Reeve (Minnesota Lynx), Nate Tibbetts (Phoenix Mercury), Sandy Brondello (New York Liberty), and Noelle Quinn (Seattle Storm). Hammon, Reeve, and Brondello have all gained a number of WNBA championships. Tibbetts simply completed his first season in Mercury after greater than a decade as an NBA assistant, whereas Quinn has been head coach of the Storm for 4 seasons after an extended WNBA enjoying profession.
There’s an impressive query about whether or not a brand new crop of potential coaches may come from faculty, the NBA or different sources. It’s attainable that almost all of the league’s fired coaches will merely discover themselves with a special franchise, but it surely’s additionally attainable that the league will likely be infused with a brand new inflow of expertise. The standing of teaching within the WNBA has undoubtedly been elevated over the previous few years.
“I feel it’s shifting in a very good path, as a result of it’s extra aggressive and there’s extra eyes on it, the pool of coaches that we will select from can solely get greater and larger,” Hull mentioned. “We’re going to have nice coaches arising, and simply excited to see what these eras appear like. It’s unpredictable at this level, however I’m excited to see what it can appear like a 12 months from now.”
