INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers are hiring the NBA’s first female assistant general manager in the league’s history.
The team will hire Kelly Krauskopf, the former general manager of the Indiana Fever, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Krauskopf was the Fever’s general manager for 17 years, until 2017.
Krauskopf will work with fellow Pacers executives, including President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard, general manager Chad Buchanan and assistant GM Peter Dinwiddie, Wojnarowski reported.
Under Krauskopf, the Fever won the 2013 WNBA title, and advanced to three Finals appearances since 2009.
She will join the following women in front office NBA roles:
- Becky Bonner (Orlando)
- Amanda Green (Oklahoma City)
- Teresa Resch (Toronto)
- Michelle Leftwich (Atlanta)
- Ariana Andonian (Houston)
- Natalie Jay (Brooklyn)
While Krauskopf will officially be the league's first female assistant general manager, some give that title credit to Nancy Leonard — 30 years ago.
In a 2016 ESPNW interview, Leonard said she was the Pacers' assistant general manager, while her husband Bobby "Slick" Leonard was the general manager.
"But everybody knew that I would be responsible for the administrative part and Bob was responsible for the rest," she said at the time.
Nancy has been credited with helping keep the Pacers in Indianapolis through a telethon to sell season tickets.
