Kelly Krauskopf, the recently hired general manager of the Indiana Fever, has revealed her visionary plan for WNBA player Caitlin Clark.
In her first press conference, Krauskopf, the new president of basketball and business operations, laid out her ambitions for leading the team. Before making her first exit in 2017, she led the Fever from their founding in 2000 to their successful WNBA title in 2012.
When given the chance to return following spells as assistant general manager with the Indiana Pacers and Pacers Gaming, Krauskopf expressed great delight in returning to her career’s beginnings.
“Anytime you’re asked to return to a place that you helped build, you had a hand in building, it’s special,” Krauskopf said. “I mean, this is a seminal moment in women’s sports,” she said, emphasizing the importance of her comeback in the larger context of women’s sports. Being a part of this rising wave that we are all experiencing is a fantastic opportunity.”
Krauskopf has been searching for new players who can improve the Fever franchise and the game of basketball throughout the entirety of her WNBA tenure. Clark, the league’s Rookie of the Year, is one such treasure that Krauskopf believes will be essential to the Fever’s quest for glory.
After years of nonstop basketball play, Clark is taking a well-earned rest this off-season, which Krauskopf will hope will rejuvenate her for the upcoming season.
Furthermore, she is already aware of the precise message that Clark will get before the season begins.
Kelly Krauskopf when she was an Indiana Pacers player. (Photo credit: Getty Images)
“Caitlin Clark was 10 years old when we won our first championship,” she stated. Sometimes it takes a generation to advance to the next stage.
“And I would explain to our players that this is something we are doing for someone else. Right now, we’re making this for a 10-year-old daughter of someone. since you operate in that manner. Our goal was to continuously advance, push it forward, and provide it forward.”
With Kelsey Mitchell expected to become a free agent and the team having room for a max contract in free agency, Krauskopf will have a busy off-season. However, she went on to say that with Clark leading the club, recruiting players will be easy.
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