(Indianapolis) — Kelly Krauskopf, who built the Indiana Fever from an expansion team into a WNBA champion and became one of the most influential executives in women’s basketball, will step down as the team’s president, Pacers Sports & Entertainment announced Friday.
Krauskopf made her decision and informed team leadership before the conclusion of the 2026 regular season. The organization did not announce a successor or a specific departure date.
She joined Pacers Sports & Entertainment in 1999, prior to the Fever’s inaugural season in 2000, as the franchise’s original president and general manager. Under her leadership, Indiana made 13 postseason appearances, including a WNBA-record 12 consecutive playoff trips, reached three WNBA Finals and won the 2012 championship.
“When we started the Fever, Kelly saw what this franchise could become,” said Herb Simon, owner of Pacers Sports & Entertainment. “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. I’m proud to call her a friend.”
In 2018, Krauskopf moved to the Indiana Pacers as an assistant general manager, becoming the first woman in NBA history to hold an executive basketball management role. She spent six years with the Pacers before returning to the Fever in 2024 as president of basketball and business operations.
In her second stint, the Fever reached the WNBA semifinals in 2025 and returned to the playoffs in 2026. She also helped lead development of the team’s new $78 million sports performance center, a 108,000-square-foot facility scheduled to open in March 2027.
“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 said. “I am deeply grateful for the opportunities, relationships, and shared accomplishments that have shaped my time with this organization. The Fever is poised for an exciting future, and I am proud to have helped lay the foundation for its continued growth and success.”
Before joining Pacers Sports & Entertainment, Krauskopf served as the WNBA’s first director of basketball operations, helping establish the league’s rules, scheduling and officiating policies ahead of its 1997 launch. She also contributed to USA Basketball’s women’s national team selection process across multiple Olympic cycles.