How Indiana Fever could improve in 2025: Keep Kelsey Mitchell, find depth, a consistent 4

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Fever are coming off a landmark season — one that could be the beginning of something special.

The Fever went 20-20 and made the playoffs for the first time since 2016, grabbing the No. 6 seed. They bowed out of the playoffs to the more-experienced Connecticut Sun in the first round, but there’s a lot of optimism around the franchise with young cornerstones like Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston.

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But to take the next step, the Fever will need to make some moves. Here are four things they could do to improve in 2025:

Indiana Fever need to keep Kelsey Mitchell

This should be priority No. 1 for the Fever. Mitchell has spent all seven of her WNBA seasons with the Fever, through the many lows and now surging highs. She signed a three-year extension following her rookie contract, which expired following the 2024 season.

Mitchell was the Fever’s second-leading scorer by two total points, averaging 19.2 points per game. She was the consistent threat the Fever needed, as evidenced by her seven straight 20+ point games coming out of the Olympic break.

“She’s been a staple here, and we want her here,” coach Christie Sides said. “She’s a Hall-of-Fame player to me here.”

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Technically, Mitchell is an unrestricted free agent, and she has been mum on her plans for the future so far. But the two-time All-Star is still eligible to be cored for two seasons, and that would be the best way for the Fever to ensure they are keeping her. A core designation would give the Fever exclusive negotiating rights in exchange for a base supermax deal.

The Fever can afford the supermax (which is just under $250,000) for Mitchell, and they’re the only team that can offer it to her. At most, Mitchell would likely take the one-year deal; the WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement ends after the 2025 season, and players are anticipating large salary jumps with the new CBA, so most aren’t signing past 2025.

But, at the very least, the Fever should be able to retain her for one more season to continue the backcourt duo of Mitchell and Cailin Clark.

Indiana Fever need a consistent power forward

Indiana struggled to find consistency on both ends of the floor at the power forward position this season. NaLyssa Smith, who started most games, was not a big defensive threat, and her minutes dwindled as the season continued.

Temi Fagbenle was a consistent defensive threat and decent scorer but suffered three injuries (shoulder, thumb, foot) that kept her out for nearly half the season. She ended up only playing 22 of the Fever’s 40 regular-season games, limiting her ability to make an impact in the rotation.

When it comes to finding a consistent player at the 4, Fagbenle, a restricted free agent, could definitely be that person — if she decides to return to the Fever and can stay healthy.

There are also multiple free agents available that could fit that bill — including a former Fever player.

Natasha Howard was a 2014 Fever draft pick, playing two years in a reserve role before going to the Minnesota Lynx in a sign-and-trade. Since then, Howard had a meteoric rise to become one of the best power forwards in the WNBA, becoming the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year and winning three WNBA championships between her time on the Lynx and Seattle Storm.

Howard, who missed six weeks with an injury in 2024, averaged 17.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game in 27 games for the Dallas Wings. She has already been cored the maximum number of seasons announced her departure from the Wings, where she has played for the past two years, in a post on X shortly after the regular season. Entering unrestricted free agency, the 33-year-old Howard could be a perfect fit for the Fever.

Other options may include outgoing Seattle Storm UFAs Nneka Ogwumike and Gabby Williams. Ogwumike, the 2016 WNBA MVP, averaged 16.7 points and 7.6 rebounds for the Storm this season, but she has also spent her entire career on the West Coast. Williams returned to the league after spending most of the WNBA season overseas (leading France to a silver medal in the Olympics), and averaged 10.3 points per game in 12 regular-season games. Williams, however, has lucrative overseas contracts and has not confirmed if she is coming back to the WNBA at all next season.

Finally, Satou Sabally of the Wings could be another option. But Sabally is eligible to be cored, and Dallas will likely take advantage of that — especially since their other star, Arike Ogunbowale, is unable to be cored anymore.

Indiana Fever need some more depth

Indiana ran a short rotation for most of the season, bringing just 2-3 players off the bench in any given game.

The Fever starters frequently played 35 or more minutes per game, which led to fatigue in the thick of the season and some struggles when starters got into foul trouble. It became especially evident when Indiana needed to use its challenge to overturn some foul calls during the playoffs, as they were originally called on the wrong player.

“I think for us, it’s going to make sure that we have depth in any position,” Fever center Aliyah Boston said of what she thinks Indiana needs in the offseason. “I think making sure that we have extra bodies, just because you never know how games go.”

The Fever could re-sign Erica Wheeler to a less lucrative contract than she had in 2023-24 (she was the highest-paid player in the league in 2023). Wheeler would provide a veteran backup at the 1 and the 2, as well as continue to cultivate a good environment in the locker room.

Guard Odyssey Sims or forward Monique Billings would also be good options for the Fever to provide some depth. On a hardship contract, Sims averaged 17.2 points per game in nine games with Dallas this season. She then signed with the L.A. Sparks for the remainder of the season, starting 10 games and averaging 10.8 points per game.

Billings was also on a hardship contract with the Wings for a part of the season before signing with the Mercury. She averaged 8.8 points per game over 24 games (12 starts) with the Wings and played in 13 games with two starts for the Mercury.

Another forward option could be Brianna Turner. She spent this season on the Sky as part of the trade that sent Kahleah Copper to Phoenix. She had a down year with Chicago (mostly due to lack of usage), but was a four-year starter for the Mercury. Her best season came in 2021, when she averaged 7.8 points and 9.4 rebounds for Phoenix.

Indiana Fever could use some defensive help

Despite making defense a focus this season, Indiana did not improve too much in its defensive rating from 2023 to 2024.

Indiana’s defensive rating (points scored per 100 possessions) was second-worst in the league this season, sitting at 107.5. It was technically a downgrade from 2023, when the Fever were second-worst with a 106.3 defensive rating. Now, the Fever improved heavily this season because of a highly improved offense. But to get into championship-level territory, they need a lot better defense.

Instead of just scheme changes, they could do with a couple key personnel changes, too.

This is where signing Howard could be two-fold. Howard was the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2019 and could give the Fever a big upgrade at the 4 and in defense.

In 2023, Howard’s last full season, she was 14th in the league with 1.2 blocks per game and 21st with 1.3 steals per game. She has been a consistent defensive presence in her 11 years in the league and could elevate the Fever defense.

Follow IndyStar Fever Insider Chloe Peterson on X at @chloepeterson67.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Fever offseason priorities in WNBA free agency, trades