End of an Era: Pioneer Kelly Krauskopf Steps Down as Indiana Fever President

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INDIANAPOLIS — In a seismic organizational shift for one of the WNBA’s cornerstone franchises, trailblazing executive Kelly Krauskopf stepped down as President of Basketball and Business Operations for the Indiana Fever on Friday.

The decision marks the conclusion of Krauskopf’s second executive stint with Pacers Sports & Entertainment (PS&E). As the foundational architect who guided Indiana from an expansion team in 2000 to a WNBA championship in 2012, Krauskopf leaves behind a legacy that reshaped women’s professional sports and shattered barriers across professional basketball.

A Legendary Blueprint: From WNBA Pioneer to NBA History

Krauskopf’s influence on the sport began at the ground level. Before arriving in Indianapolis, she served as the WNBA’s very first Director of Basketball Operations in 1996, helping construct the league’s initial competitive framework, scheduling structures, and officiating guidelines.

When PS&E brought her on to build the Indiana Fever ahead of their inaugural season in 2000, Krauskopf engineered a culture of sustained success. Over her 17-year first tenure as General Manager, she steered the team to 13 playoff appearances, three Eastern Conference titles (2009, 2012, 2015), and the franchise’s crowning glory—a 2012 WNBA Championship led by Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings.

In December 2018, Krauskopf made national history when she was hired as the Assistant General Manager of the Indiana Pacers. The move made her the first woman in NBA history to hold an executive management role strictly focused on basketball operations, roster construction, and player personnel.

Returning Home to Bridge the New Era

After six seasons working alongside Pacers President Kevin Pritchard and General Manager Chad Buchanan in the NBA front office, Krauskopf returned to her roots in September 2024 to reassume leadership of the Fever. Her return came at a pivotal moment, overseeing a roster transformation anchored by back-to-back No. 1 overall draft picks Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark.

Under Krauskopf’s leadership over the past two seasons, the Fever navigated immense public attention, rebuilt their front-office operations, and re-established themselves as a perennial playoff contender in front of record-breaking crowds at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

“She had an incredible career. It’s been fun to get to know her over the course of the last two years,” guard Caitlin Clark said on Friday following the announcement. “She was able to help us do some amazing things. I think it’s just been really fun for myself to get to be around her.”

Kelly Krauskopf will step down as team president, closing an extraordinary chapter in a career of nearly three decades with PS&E in which she built the Fever from its founding, delivered the franchise’s first WNBA championship, and helped open doors for women across professional basketball.

Learn more: https://t.co/2TeuXWQ8qk

— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) October 23, 2026

“She Built It, Delivered a Championship, and Came Back”

Herb Simon, owner of Pacers Sports & Entertainment, expressed deep gratitude for Krauskopf’s decades of service to the organization and the city of Indianapolis.

“When we started the Fever, Kelly saw what this franchise could become,” Simon said in an official team statement. “She built it, delivered a championship, and came back when we needed her. She has played an extraordinary role in the growth of women’s basketball in Indianapolis, and our family is grateful for everything she’s given this organization.”

In her parting statement, Krauskopf reflected on the foundation laid for the franchise’s next chapter.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to help build and steward the Indiana Fever with the support and trust of Herb Simon,” Krauskopf stated. “The Fever is poised for an exciting future, and I am proud to have helped lay the foundation for its continued growth and success.”

As Indiana prepares for a high-stakes 2027 offseason—where roster expansion and coaching staff decisions loom—Krauskopf leaves behind a standard of executive excellence that set the benchmark for modern professional sports.

Stay tuned to NGSC Sports for full coverage, front-office updates, and complete offseason analysis for the Indiana Fever.