Indiana Fever hire new media relations director
Jackie Maynard joins the franchise after working in professional soccer for the past decade. It's another major change in the Fever organization.
The Indiana Fever’s offseason overhaul continues.
The team has hired Jackie Maynard as the associate vice president of basketball communications, a newly-created role that promises to be an exciting, fun-filled and high-pressure job given the spotlight on Caitlin Clark and thus the team.
Securing the No. 1 pick and then drafting Clark, who just turned 23 years old, 10 months ago changed everything for the franchise — and the league.
Maynard will oversee basketball communications for the team and be the primary contact for media.
Moreover, the team plans to hire a media relations manager to work under Maynard. A job posting went up one week ago.
In a corresponding move, the Fever parted ways with PR director Ryan Stevens. He served in that role for five years, including during the WNBA bubble in Bradenton, Fla. He was previously with the Mad Ants, also owned by Pacers Sports & Entertainment, and USA Basketball.
He did a great job communicating with reporters and advocating for the franchise, which was especially important prior to the 2024 season.
One year ago, Stevens was the recipient of the first annual Val Ackerman Award by the Pro Basketball Writers Association to honor the best team media relations official.
Maynard, from Rochester, NY, comes to Indy from Orlando. She spent the past 12 years in women’s soccer, including the past nine with the Orlando Pride of NWSL and Orlando City SC of Major League Soccer.
In December, the NWSL’s inaugural Communications Team of the Year award went to the Orlando Pride, which was led by Maynard. This was one month after the Pride won their first NWSL Championship — so Maynard has experience with winners and high-profile players.
New Fever GM Amber Cox came from the Dallas Wings — but she has experience working in both the NWSL (KC Current, Houston Dash) and MLS (Houston Dynamo).
“I am incredibly excited to join the Indiana Fever. From my first conversation to the last, it was clear that everyone, at every level, is invested in setting the standard for fans, players and the community,” Maynard said in a statement. “I look forward to joining a franchise that has been committed to the growth of women’s basketball for over two decades and I’m ready to do all I can to help the Indiana Fever become the preeminent women’s sports franchise in the world.”
After Kelly Krauskopf, the original architect of the team, returned as team president in October, she shared her vision for sustained success and to become an enduring brand.
“I really feel like we're poised and we're set up for a great, successful next era of the Fever basketball,” she said.
The news release highlights how Maynard also oversaw media projects for the opening of two training facilities and Inter&Co Stadium, the team’s $155 million privately funded stadium, which opened in 2017.
That’s notable because just over a week ago, the Fever announced their plans to build a new $78 million practice center.
There are three of us in Indy who cover the Fever on a daily basis. But there were regularly local TV cameras at practices and games, plus countless national requests.
Here’s a look at more than 30 media members at a standing-room only press conference after the Fever’s season ended to Connecticut in the first round of the playoffs. There’s certainly no shortage of interest in the team and particularly in Clark, the Time Magazine Athlete of the Year.
Fever Offseason Changes
President: Kelly Krauskopf
GM: Amber Cox
Head coach: Stephanie White
Assistant coaches: Austin Kelly, Keith Porter
Video coordinator: Adam Helmer
Operations coordinator: Danny Lubelfeld