Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White had a formidable coaching team behind her this past WNBA season. This consisted of Karima Christmas-Kelly, her partner, Austin Kelly and Briann January. Together, they coached the Fever to their first WNBA Commissioner’s Cup championship in July. Despite cornerstone superstar Caitlin Clark being limited to just 13 games due to multiple injuries, White and Co. were still able to lead Indiana to a 24-20 record in the regular season to secure the No. 6 spot in the playoffs.
The shorthanded Fever went all the way to the semifinals, where they pushed the eventual champions, the Las Vegas Aces, to a hard-fought five-game series. All things considered, the Fever’s 2025 campaign was commendable.
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Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White speaks during a press conference. Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
One of White’s assistants received some big career news on Monday. Christmas-Kelly, who has been with the Fever since 2023, will head back home to Houston, Texas, for a very special night. This comes after it was announced on Monday that J. Frank Dobie High School will be honoring Christmas-Kelly for her incredible career with the girls’ basketball team.
Christmas-Kelly shared the career-defining honor via social media.
“For the LOVE of the game. 🏀🧡🖤 11/14/25,” she wrote.
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According to the official announcement from Dobie High School, there will be a banner reveal on Friday at 5 p.m. local time in honor of Christmas-Kelly, who was part “of the only girls basketball team to make it to state.”
Congratulations quickly poured in for the Fever assistant coach after her big career news.
“Congratsss Rima❤️❤️” commented Aliyah Boston on Instagram.
“yeahhhh Rima🙌🏽🔥” wrote rookie Makayla Timpson.
“Yesss Rimaaaa👏🏽🔥” posted Aerial Powers.
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“👏👏” the Fever reacted.
“Congrats Rima!!!” said Hall of Famer Seimone Augustus.
“🔥🔥Congratulations 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾” a user wrote.
“Most deserved!!! Congrats!” another said.
After her stint at Dobie High School, Christmas-Kelly played for the Duke Blue Devils in the NCAA from 2007 to 2011. The 6-foot forward-guard entered the WNBA as a second-round pick during the 2011 Draft.
Christmas-Kelly played 10 years in the WNBA. She suited up for the Washington Mystics, the Tulsa Shock/Dallas Wings and the Minnesota Lynx. Christmas-Kelly also played for the Fever for three seasons, from 2012 to 2014. She was part of Indiana’s championship-winning squad in 2012.
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Christmas-Kelly holds career averages of 7.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.1 steals in 243 games played.
Related: “It Was an Honor”: Indiana Fever Coach Sends Message to Kelsey Mitchell After WNBA Season
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Nov 12, 2025, where it first appeared in the WNBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
