INDIANAPOLIS — Pacers Sports & Entertainment announced today that Kelly Krauskopf will step down as team president of the Indiana Fever, 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. Krauskopf made her decision and informed leadership before the conclusion of the 2026 regular season.
A pioneering executive and one of the most influential leaders in the history of the WNBA, Krauskopf joined PS&E in 1999, ahead of the Fever’s inaugural season in 2000. As the franchise’s original president and general manager, she turned an expansion team into one of the WNBA’s most consistent winners, making 13 postseason appearances, including a WNBA-record 12 consecutive playoff appearances, three WNBA Finals berths, and the 2012 title.
“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 transitioned to the Indiana Pacers as assistant general manager, becoming the first woman in NBA history to hold an executive basketball management role. During her six years with the Pacers, she helped shape the organization’s basketball operations while continuing to break barriers for women in professional sports.
Krauskopf returned to the Fever in 2024 as president of basketball and business operations, rejoining the franchise she helped create at a pivotal moment for women’s basketball. During her second tenure, the Fever reached the WNBA semifinals in 2025 and returned to the playoffs in 2026, building on the franchise’s history of success while competing amid unprecedented growth and visibility for the team and the sport.
“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. I will always cherish my time with Pacers Sports and Entertainment and the people who made it so meaningful.”
Krauskopf has also helped lead the development of the Fever’s new $78 million sports performance center, a state-of-the-art, 108,000-square-foot facility scheduled to open in March 2027, marking a significant investment in the franchise’s future.
Throughout her career, Krauskopf has been a trailblazer at the intersection of basketball leadership and the advancement of women in sports. Before joining PS&E, she served as the WNBA’s first director of basketball operations, helping establish the league’s foundational rules, scheduling and officiating policies ahead of its launch in 1997. She also contributed to USA Basketball’s women’s national team selection process across multiple Olympic cycles.
