The Indiana Fever cut rookie guard Celeste Taylor on Tuesday, sparking controversy among WNBA fans.

Many fans criticized the decision, saying the Fever never gave Taylor a chance to prove herself on the court.

Fever coach Christie Sides was asked to address the roster decision on Wednesday.

Sides said it was a tough choice to make, but ultimately justified it as a “business decision” for the team.

“That was just a really tough choice,” Sides said. “Celeste did everything we asked her… It was really hard to let her go. It’s just a business decision. it’s one of the hardest things we have to do in this game.”

The Fever waived Taylor to make way for forward Damiris Dantas, who missed the beginning of the 2024 season with a knee injury.

Indiana will face off against the Seattle Storm in their next matchup on Thursday night.