The Indiana Fever dismissed general manager and Chief Operating Officer Amber Cox on Friday, triggering a comprehensive leadership overhaul just hours after team president Kelly Krauskopf stepped down, the Associated Press and other outlets reported.
Pacers Sports and Entertainment, the parent organization overseeing the Fever and the NBA’s Indiana Pacers, announced Cox’s departure and confirmed it would launch a national search to replace her, according to the IndyStar.
“Through her two seasons with the Fever, Amber has helped us navigate the seismic growth of both the WNBA and our franchise,” Mel Raines, president and chief executive of PS&E, said in a statement. “We’re grateful for her contributions and wish her the very best moving forward.”
A tenure marked by growth and roster hurdles
Cox was hired in October 2024 to succeed Lin Dunn, who transitioned into an advisory role, Yahoo Sports reported. Before coming to Indianapolis, Cox worked in front-office capacities across the league, serving as chief operating officer of the Dallas Wings, vice president of sports for the Connecticut Sun, and chief operating officer of the Phoenix Mercury.
During Cox’s two-year tenure guiding roster construction, the Fever compiled a 52-36 regular-season record and made consecutive postseason appearances, USA TODAY Sports reported. Indiana reached a franchise-record 28 regular-season victories in 2026, though both campaigns ended with sixth-place finishes in the league standings and an inability to secure home-court advantage in the playoffs, according to the IndyStar. The team exited in the opening round this postseason following a defeat against the Las Vegas Aces.
Cox earned praise in 2025 for navigating a barrage of six season-ending injuries, which included time missed by Clark. She managed to keep the roster competitive by signing midseason additions such as Odyssey Sims, Aerial Powers, and Shey Peddy, fueling a run to Game 5 of the semifinals, the IndyStar reported. Cox also helped negotiate a long-term rookie contract extension for star forward Aliyah Boston through 2029.
However, her tenure also featured missteps. In 2025, veteran signing DeWanna Bonner played just nine games on a $200,000 agreement before leaving the team for personal reasons, leading to her waiver when a trade could not be finalized, according to the IndyStar. The newspaper added that Cox negotiated several inflated multiyear deals following the rollout of the league’s new collective bargaining agreement.
Critical offseason awaits new leadership
Despite the upper-management shakeup, head coach Stephanie White is expected to remain in her position, Yahoo Sports reported. Cox had brought White over from Connecticut shortly after taking the front-office job in 2024.
The incoming general manager will take over during a defining offseason for the franchise. Clark is eligible for a contract extension under the league’s EPIC clause, which permits top rookie-scale players to renegotiate their final year early and secure multiyear agreements, the AP reported.
Meanwhile, All-Star guard Kelsey Mitchell, who finished second in the WNBA in scoring, enters the winter as an unrestricted free agent alongside sharpshooter Sophie Cunningham, according to USA TODAY Sports. Frontcourt anchor Boston faces an uncertain recovery timeline after undergoing knee surgery following the playoff elimination.
Pacers Sports and Entertainment has not announced an interim general manager or a timetable to fill either open executive seat.
