- Fever re-signed All-Star guard Kelsey Mitchell on a core contract.
- Indiana also adds Natasha Howard, a former WNBA Defensive Player of the Year and two-time WNBA champion.
- Fever traded NaLyssa Smith and its first round pick this year in a three-team trade that brought Sophie Cunningham to Indiana.
The Indiana Fever have a new look.
In a 72-hour flurry of free agency signings and trades, the Fever front office made moves to turn Indiana into a championship contender.
This offseason, it’s obvious Indiana was looking for shooters. And the Fever got them.
First, Indiana executed its No. 1 priority: re-signing Kelsey Mitchell. The longtime Fever player will return for her eighth season in an Indiana jersey on a core contract in 2025. Mitchell averaged 19.2 points and shot a career-best 40.2% from 3-point range in 2024 and pairs perfectly with her backcourt partner Caitlin Clark.
‘Set ourselves apart.’How Kelsey Mitchell’s re-signing elevates Fever’s title hopes
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More:Fever adds veteran leadership, defensive need with Natasha Howard signing
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The Fever also intend to sign free agent Natasha Howard when the signing period opens on Saturday. Howard, who was originally drafted by the Fever in 2014, confirmed the signing on Instagram and in an essay on WSLAM, saying “To Fever fans: I’m excited.”
Howard, who is coming off a stint with the Dallas Wings, will bring some much-needed defensive prowess to this young Fever team. She missed some time with a broken foot in 2024, but averaged 17.6 points a game over 27 games.
Indiana was second-to-last in defensive rating in the WNBA in 2024, allowing an average of 107.5 points per 100 possessions. As a stretch 4, Howard will work well with Fever center Aliyah Boston in penetrating the paint.
The Fever have a potent offense, with Clark, Boston and Kelsey Mitchell as their Big Three. What they need is a new defensive scheme and someone to hold them accountable on that end of the floor, and Howard is just the type of player to do that.
Howard’s signing, however, posed another question about the Fever’s roster: What will happen to NaLyssa Smith?
The Fever answered that question the same day: Smith, along with the No. 8 pick in the 2025 draft, is heading to Dallas.
Indiana drafted Smith out of Baylor with the No. 2 pick in 2022, and she started at power forward all three years since, with career averages of 13 points and eight rebounds. But her production had a downtick in 2024 as the Fever coaching staff favored Temi Fagbenle. Smith was vocal about her disappointment with playing time as her numbers dropped to 10.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. So, she’ll have a fresh start in her home state of Texas.
Smith heading to Dallas was part of a three-team trade that also saw Satou Sabally and other Dallas assets go to Phoenix.
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In return, Indiana got 28-year-old Sophie Cunningham and the No. 19 pick in the draft from Phoenix.
Cunningham, a 6-1 shooting guard, will head to Indiana on a one-year contract worth $100,000 and become an unrestricted free agent in 2026. Salary-wise, the trade is nearly a wash: Smith is set to earn around $91,000 in 2025 and will be a restricted free agent with Dallas holding her rights in 2026.
Cunningham is a sharpshooter and a 3-and-D player. She averaged a 37.8% clip from 3-point range and is a career 36.2% from beyond the arc, giving Indiana another threat at the perimeter. She started 21 games and appeared in all 40 for the Mercury last season, averaging 8.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and two assists per game.
With all of these moves, Indiana’s starting lineup will likely shift: Clark and Mitchell will continue in the backcourt, and Cunningham and Howard will likely join Boston upfront.
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The lineup is an upgrade both offensively and defensively, assuming those five are able to jell well with each other. Cunningham and Howard will bring space to the lineup, and that space could not only force opponents to choose who they want to guard, but potentially always leave a good basket open for Indiana.
The two newcomers, along with new coach Stephanie White, will also bring a different defensive philosophy to Indiana — something the Fever desperately need.
New Fever president Kelly Krauskopf and GM Amber Cox have made one thing clear this season: Indiana isn’t rebuilding anymore.
Multiple moves this offseason — including hiring White away from Connecticut, signing Howard and trading for Cunningham — make it so Indiana could be a contender this year.
The window is small: Cunningham and Mitchell’s deals are only for the 2025 season, and Howard’s likely is as well. Lexie Hull, who will likely be the first player off the bench and crucial depth piece, exhausts her rookie contract after this season.
Even looking a bit further, Boston’s rookie contract expires after the 2026 season. As the 2023 No. 1 pick and two-time All-Star, she will likely command a max contract. Clark’s contract runs through the 2027 season, and Indiana will need to go through the same thing then.
The competition, as always, will be tough. New York is returning most of its main pieces from a championship season in 2024, and the same goes for runner-up Minnesota Lynx and semifinalist Las Vegas Aces.
Indiana will need a couple more pieces to round out the 2025 roster, including a backup point guard that can mimic Clark’s play style and some more depth behind Boston and Howard in the frontcourt.
But the intentions are clear: the time is now for Indiana to win a championship.
One of the most impactful trades the Fever made was acquiring center Teaira McCowan from the Seattle Storm. McCowan has been a dominant force in the paint, averaging double-doubles in points and rebounds. Her presence has given the Fever a strong defensive presence and added depth to their frontcourt.
In addition to McCowan, the Fever also made key signings to bolster their roster. They signed veteran guard Danielle Robinson, who brings leadership and experience to the team. Robinson’s ability to facilitate the offense and play tough defense has been crucial for the Fever’s success this season.
The Fever have also benefited from the development of their young players, such as Kelsey Mitchell and Victoria Vivians. Mitchell, a sharpshooting guard, has been a key scorer for the Fever, while Vivians has provided valuable minutes off the bench with her scoring and defensive abilities.
Overall, the Fever’s combination of trades, signings, and player development has turned them into a formidable team that is capable of competing with the best in the league. With a strong roster and a winning mentality, the Fever are poised to make a deep playoff run and potentially bring home the WNBA title.
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