Fever president Krauskopf steps down after 2nd stint with team

Indiana Fever president Kelly Krauskopf has stepped down from her position, the team announced Friday, ending her second stint with the franchise.

Krauskopf said she told the team of her decision before the season ended. Her departure closes a chapter on one of the most influential careers in WNBA front-office history, one that began before the Fever ever took the court.

Hired as the team's president and general manager before its inaugural 2000 season, Krauskopf guided the Fever through 12 consecutive playoff appearances, three trips to the WNBA Finals and the franchise's first championship in 2012.

In 2018 she broke new ground by joining the Indiana Pacers as assistant general manager, becoming the first woman in NBA history to hold an executive basketball operations post. She came back to the Fever in 2024 as president of basketball and business operations.

"It has been an honor and a privilege to help build and steward the Indiana Fever with the support and trust of [owner] Herb Simon," Krauskopf said in a statement. "I am deeply grateful for the opportunities, relationships, and shared accomplishments that have shaped my time with this organization. The Fever is poised for an exciting future, and I am proud to have helped lay the foundation for its continued growth and success."

Simon praised her in a statement: "When we started the Fever, Kelly saw what this franchise could become. She built it, delivered a championship and came back when we needed her." He added that she played "an extraordinary role in the growth of women's basketball in Indianapolis."