INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Fever have hired two new assistant coaches for the upcoming 2023 season, the team announced today.
Jessie Miller and Karima Christmas-Kelly join the staff of head coach Christie Sides, hired in November to lead a talented roster back to the top of the WNBA.
“I am excited that Karima and Jessie will join our Fever staff/family, two leaders who epitomize the values that define our franchise and our players,” said Sides. “I am a firm believer that good things happen when you surround yourself with good people, and the Indiana Fever got better today adding these two outstanding coaches.”
Miller comes to Indiana with a strong background as a head coach and player development specialist in men’s and women’s basketball. A four-year starter and team captain at Illinois University-Chicago, she spent five years playing in Germany before transitioning to the coaching ranks. In addition to stints as a WNBA assistant coach for the Fever and the Chicago Sky, she was most recently head coach for the BBC Coburg (Germany) Men’s Team following roles as head coach, assistant coach, and player development lead for the DJK Brose Bamberg (Germany) Women’s Team.
“Jessie has an unbelievable work ethic and is incredibly adept at building strong relationships, and her passion, dedication, and experience on both the women’s and men’s sides will elevate our team in all aspects,” Sides said.
Christmas-Kelly brings a decade of experience as a WNBA player following a decorated career at Duke University, where she led the Blue Devils to two ACC Championships and was twice selected to the conference First Team. As a member of the Fever’s 2012 WNBA Championship team under Lin Dunn, she played an important role in elevating the franchise to the top of the League. Her coaching and management experience includes roles on the Women’s Basketball staffs at the University of Texas-Arlington, Duke, and Georgia Tech, and she served as a women’s college basketball analyst for ESPN during the 2021-2022 season. Additionally, Christmas-Kelly is an entrepreneur, business owner, and philanthropist, having founded her own clothing brand and charitable Foundation.
“Karima is a WNBA champion and has been a winner at every level, plain and simple,” said Sides. “She understands the hard work that it takes to hang a banner, and that experience is invaluable to me and our players.”
In November, the Fever announced their 40-game 2023 schedule with a full home slate at Gainbridge Fieldhouse following the three-year Fieldhouse of the Future renovations. For more information, visit www.FeverBasketball.com.