Indiana Fever Part Ways with General Manager Amber Cox
The WNBA franchise has dismissed its general manager and chief operating officer following a leadership shakeup and a first-round playoff exit.
The Indiana Fever announced they are parting ways with general manager and chief operating officer Amber Cox after two years with the franchise. Cox joined the organization in 2024 to succeed Lin Dunn, finishing her tenure with an overall record of 52-36 and a franchise-record 28 wins during the recent season. Her departure comes amid a wider leadership overhaul for the team, which also includes the recent departure of team president Kelly Krauskopf after nearly 30 years with Pacers Sports & Entertainment.
During Cox's administration, the Fever navigated significant injuries during the 2025 season to capture the Commissioner's Cup and reach the semifinals. Facing prolonged absences from key players including Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham, and Sydney Colson, Cox secured mid-season reinforcements such as Aari McDonald, Odyssey Sims, Shey Peddy, Chloe Bibby, and Aerial Powers to propel the roster deep into the postseason.
Cox also oversaw several monumental roster and financial decisions, highlighted by a four-year contract extension for Aliyah Boston worth an estimated $6.3 million through the league's Exceptional Performance on Initial Contract provision. Additionally, Cox secured Kelsey Mitchell with a core designation and a supermax deal ahead of a historic campaign where Mitchell established a new WNBA single-season scoring record with 1,086 points. Infrastructure planning also progressed under her watch with the development of the Indiana Fever Sports Performance Center, a three-story, 100,000-square-foot training facility slated to open before the 2027 season.
Not every roster move under Cox yielded success, notably the acquisition of veteran forward DeWanna Bonner ahead of the 2025 season. Bonner appeared in nine games before she was waived, stating that the fit did not work out after the team was unable to find a trade partner. Beyond on-court performance, the franchise faced intense scrutiny regarding external controversies and social discourse surrounding the team throughout the year.
Just weeks prior to her dismissal, Cox addressed public criticism directed at the organization's fanbase during exit interviews. "The attacks on our fanbase have no basis in reality, and they need to stop..." Cox stated on October 3, adding that while occasional bad behavior by spectators must be handled accountability-wise, no player pointed out a violation of the league's code of conduct by a fan during the season.
Cox's comments drew immediate pushback from former Fever player Brianna Turner, who called the remarks unequivocally false on social media. Turner wrote that players both inside and outside the organization had repeatedly filed complaints regarding the fanbase, describing the trend as undeniable and characterizing claims that the attacks lacked reality as disingenuous.
The front office changes follow a postseason exit in the first round against the defending champion Las Vegas Aces. As the franchise looks toward future free agency windows and building a consistent championship contender around stars like Caitlin Clark, the incoming leadership will assume responsibility for steering the team through both competitive roster construction and the intense media spotlight surrounding the organization.