March 25, 2026, 4:47 a.m. ET
- For the 2026 season, the Indiana Fever aim to construct their team with Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark as foundational players.
- The Fever appear well-positioned for the approaching expansion draft, expecting to safeguard their essential talent.
INDIANAPOLIS — Following their recent appearance in the WNBA playoff semifinals, the Indiana Fever must swiftly rebuild their squad for 2026.
On March 18, the WNBA and the players’ union revealed a new collective bargaining agreement had been reached, triggering a frantic month-long offseason. Every team, including the Fever, will be compelled to act rapidly in assembling their roster via free agency, the expansion draft, and the rookie entry draft.
Currently, for the prospective 2026 season, only three players are under contract with the Fever: Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark, and Makayla Timpson. While Indiana, like all other league teams, faces significant tasks in free agency, they possess a considerable edge with two of their three core talents already secured.
Furthermore, Indiana is favorably situated concerning the expansion draft for the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire. Although the precise number of players current teams can safeguard remains unclear, the Fever anticipate being able to shield their three contracted players, alongVING with potentially two additional players like Kelsey Mitchell or Lexie Hull, whom they might pursue through free agency.
Therefore, with coach Stephanie White entering her second year leading the team, how will the Fever construct their roster around their foundational players?
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Securing expiring contracts of free agents
For the second consecutive season, Mitchell stands as Indiana’s top priority in free agency.
The 2025 season saw Indiana sign Mitchell to a core contract, granting her an automatic supermax salary of approximately $250,000. Previously, under the old CBA, players could be “cored” for two seasons, receiving a supermax contract in return for exclusive negotiation rights.
A modification to the core designation was introduced in the new CBA by both parties: only athletes with less than six years of service will qualify for coring. Nevertheless, this regulation takes effect in the 2027 season, enabling the Fever to core Mitchell in 2026. This action would secure Mitchell an automatic $1.4 million supermax deal and permit Indiana to hold onto her rights for an additional year.
Sophie Cunningham, set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2026, seamlessly integrated into the Indiana squad upon her 2025 trade from Phoenix. As the Fever’s starting wing, Cunningham contributed 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, additionally serving as the team’s “enforcer.” However, her inaugural year with Indiana was marred by an early-season ankle injury, followed by an MCL tear in August. Despite these setbacks, Cunningham, a Missouri native, often described the 2025 season as the pinnacle of her career.
Lexie Hull, having just completed her rookie contract after being selected by Indiana at No. 6 in 2022, has indicated a desire to rejoin the Fever. Over her four years, Hull’s position evolved from a deep bench player to a crucial rotational asset, ultimately becoming a starting wing with impressive three-point shooting.
Hull offers vital depth across the lineup, capable of playing positions 2, 3, and 4 as required. She also excels as a defender—an area Indiana has been keen to enhance. As a restricted free agent in 2026, the Fever hold the right of first refusal for Hull.
The Fever will also require a reserve point guard to support Clark, a role Aari McDonald filled effectively during the limited 2025 minutes when both players were fit.
McDonald’s playing style mirrors Clark’s in its fast-paced, transition-focused approach, albeit an uncommon one. This stylistic alignment would ensure minimal disruption when Clark exits the game, offering Indiana’s star player much-needed rest.
However, McDonald has recently been plagued by injuries. She sustained a broken right foot during Indiana’s contest against Phoenix on August 7, 2025, followed by another right leg injury in her debut Unrivaled game in January. On February 9, McDonald posted on X that her comeback, though not for Unrivaled, was “very soon.”
Identifying complementary players
Provided Indiana successfully re-signs its core free agents, the Fever will probably require a power forward to complete their starting five. The ideal candidate would be a rim-running ‘4’ capable of consistently making three-pointers to pose an outside scoring threat.
Coach White’s squads have consistently demonstrated robust defensive capabilities. Her Connecticut teams led the league in defensive rating in 2024 and were second in 2023, while her 2025 Indiana team placed seventh.
Gabby Williams, who competed for the Seattle Storm with a core designation in 2025, would be an excellent match for the player profile Indiana seeks. Williams is a swift forward proficient at running the floor, averaging 11.6 points per contest, and an energetic defender—earning first-team All-Defense honors and finishing third in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2025. The central concern, naturally, is whether Indiana can financially accommodate both Mitchell and Williams, as both are expected to demand contracts near the maximum in 2026.
Azura Stevens, a 6-foot-6 power forward/center, presents another potential acquisition. Her eight-year WNBA career spans Dallas, Chicago, and Los Angeles, offering Indiana a seasoned presence. Stevens is accustomed to playing alongside another big, demonstrated by her averages of 12.8 points and 8.0 rebounds playing next to Dearica Hamby in Los Angeles. In 2025, Stevens also attempted 4.4 three-pointers per game, connecting at a 38% rate.
A familiar path for the Fever might be Temi Fagbenle, who was acquired by Golden State after being left unprotected in the 2025 expansion draft. Fagbenle, an unrestricted free agent, proved an ideal partner for Clark in 2024, as a big who could swiftly move downcourt and convert Clark’s long passes.
For Indiana to advance, they must identify players who complement Clark’s fast-paced playing style. Securing a skilled stretch-four, combined with retaining their essential free agents and developing bench depth, will enable the Fever to achieve this progression.
Chloe Peterson serves as the Indiana Fever beat reporter for IndyStar. She can be contacted at [email protected] or found on X via @chloepeterson67. Receive IndyStar’s Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark news directly in your inbox by subscribing to our Caitlin Clark Fever newsletter.