What's next for the Indiana Fever after front office departures?

The Indiana Fever haven't played a game in more than three weeks, but they still managed to steal the spotlight during the WNBA Finals. On Friday morning, news broke that team president Kelly Krauskopf is stepping down after nearly three decades with Pacers Sports & Entertainment. Hours later, the organization fired general manager and chief operating officer Amber Cox.

The double departure leaves Indiana's front office in flux, but ESPN reports that head coach Stephanie White is expected to remain in place, according to sources. That continuity matters: the pressure on Caitlin Clark and the rest of the roster to compete for a championship is only growing.

Clark remains on her rookie contract, though she is eligible for the new "EPIC" extension provision under the league's latest collective bargaining agreement, which allows players to renegotiate early. ESPN's reporting stresses that time is of the essence for Indiana, with a pivotal free-agency period ahead. Re-signing veteran Kelsey Mitchell is near the top of the priority list, along with finding frontcourt help for Aliyah Boston and adding perimeter shooting and defense.

There is no clear successor for Cox or Krauskopf. League sources told ESPN that Indiana could target a respected up-and-coming assistant GM or follow the trend of hiring an innovative executive from the NBA. Whoever takes over will also have to address the perception problem around the Fever's fan base: former Sun forward Alyssa Thomas has pointed to racist comments from sections of Indiana supporters, and the team's handling of that criticism has been a lingering issue.

Ownership is expected to invest heavily in the next hires. With Clark's championship window opening, Indiana's new front office will have little room for error.