After missing the playoffs for the third consecutive season, the Indiana Fever has fired their general manager and head coach. Dana “Pokey” Chatman took over in 2016 after their previous coach Stephanie White departed. While she’s been the head coach, her time hasn’t been as good as they’d had liked it to be. The Fever made the playoffs for twelve years straight from 2005-2016 winning a WNBA title in 2012. Prior to her moving to the Indiana fever, Chatman was the head coach and GM of the Chicago Sky and lead the team to four playoffs and a finals appearance. Pokey Chatman fired comes as a surprise to many Fever fans.
This season seemed to be the best one so far since she’s been the coach of the Indiana Fever. Over the course of her three seasons as the coach, the fever had a record of 28-74. In a posting on their website, the team announced her departure. “We want to thank Pokey for her time with our franchise and we wish her the absolute best,” said Tamika Catchings, Indiana Fever Vice President of Basketball Operations in a statement announcing the team’s move. “Our organization is optimistic about our future as we continue to build on our 20-year legacy as one of the WNBA’s most successful franchises.”
No word on a new coach or any prospects just yet. It’s now in the hands of the front office to get them a good coach that can lead them to bigger and better for next season. Let’s hope they can find someone to replace such an important role in this team.
What’s next for Indiana? The Fever finished the season with a record of 13-21 under coach Pokey Chatman. Should they have fired coach Chatman or traded players? Only four key players contributed day in and day out. Kelsey Mitchell averaged 13.6 points per game and Candice Dupree with 11.6 points per game. The other two key players were, the undrafted all-star game MVP Erica Wheeler with 10.1 points per game and the rookie sensation Teaira McCowan finished the season with 10 points per game. Paris Kea could have contributed more this season.
That’s the end of an era for the Indiana Fever and coach Pokey Chatman. The news of Dana ” Pokey” Chatman fired as Indiana Fever Head coach and GM is shocking.
