Indiana Fever president Kelly Krauskopf steps down after nearly 30 years

Kelly Krauskopf is stepping down as president of the Indiana Fever, the team announced on Friday, marking the end of her nearly 30-year tenure with the franchise's parent company, Pacers Sports & Entertainment, according to Yahoo Sports.

Krauskopf joined the organization in 1999 before the Fever's inaugural WNBA season in 2000 and served as the franchise's original president and general manager. Under her leadership, the Fever made 13 postseason appearances, including a record 12 consecutive playoff runs, and reached the WNBA Finals three times, winning the championship in 2012.

In 2018, Krauskopf became the first woman to hold an executive basketball management role in the NBA when she was named assistant general manager of the Indiana Pacers. She returned to the Fever in 2024 as president of basketball and business operations, leading the team to the semifinals in 2025 and a playoff appearance in 2026.

Krauskopf also played a key role in developing the Fever's new $78 million sports performance center, which is scheduled to open in March 2027. She informed the leadership of her decision to step down before the end of the 2026 regular season.

The Fever organization expressed gratitude for Krauskopf's contributions, highlighting her role in building the franchise and advancing women's basketball in Indianapolis. The team now faces an important offseason as it transitions to new leadership and pursues player re-signings.