Fever president talks Kelsey Mitchell future, NaLyssa Smith frustrations, needed additions

INDIANAPOLIS — Returning Indiana Fever President of Basketball Operations Kelly Krauskopf laid out her immediate plans for the Fever in a (re)introductory news conference Tuesday, addressing topics from re-signing players to what the team needs to be successful.

Krauskopf, who was the Fever’s president and general manager from 2000-18, came back to the Fever after being Pacers assistant general manager for six years. She’s taking over at a high time for the Fever — they went 20-20 for their first .500 or better record and playoff berth since 2016.

Now, Krauskopf wants to improve even more.

Both she and incoming Fever GM Amber Cox will be involved in signing players and talking with agents this offseason. One of those player priorities is Kelsey Mitchell, who is a core-eligible unrestricted free agent following the 2024 season.

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Will Kelsey Mitchell return to Indiana Fever?

Kelsey Mitchell is technically an UFA this offseason after finishing a three-year contract with the Fever. But as an outgoing free agent, she is eligible to be cored, which gives Mitchell a one-year supermax deal in exchange for exclusive negotiating rights.

Mitchell has been an imperative part of Indiana since she was drafted in 2018. Krauskopf, in her final year with the Fever before moving to the Pacers, was part of her draft process.

“Pokey Chatman was our coach and GM. I went to see Kelsey play with USA Basketball in Santa Barbara at one of their workout camps,” Krauskopf said. “And I called Pokey, and I said, ‘I’m watching our draft pick right now. She’s going to be a star, this player. She’s going to be a dynamic guard for us for years to come.’ So, we wouldn’t be where we are today without Kelsey Mitchell. I mean, she’s clearly a very foundational piece.”

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Seven years later, Mitchell is a two-time All-Star and has led the Fever in scoring in all but two of her seasons in an Indiana uniform.

With the Fever surging, Krauskopf wants to keep her a part of the ‘Big 3,’ along with Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark.

“She’s extremely important to the success of this, our future,” Krauskopf said. “We intend to have lots of conversations and make sure she knows that, but I think she does know that.”

NaLyssa Smith’s status with Indiana Fever

Krauskopf knows Fever forward NaLyssa Smith’s feelings about how her season went. Drafted No. 2 in 2022, Smith saw her role decline with decreased minutes, shots and rebounds.

Temi Fagbenle replaced Smith in the starting lineup at points and Smith was vocal about her lack of usage on social media and during her exit interview, saying this was not how she expected her third season in the league to go.

That’s normal for every team, Krauskopf said.

“I think there’s always players that probably end seasons that wish it would have gone better for them, or they have different views,” Krauskopf said.

Smith is still under contract with the Fever through the 2025 season, as Indiana picked up her fourth-year rookie contract team option. Still, the Fever have opportunities to part ways with Smith if that’s what either side wants. Indiana could trade her, leave her unprotected in the expansion draft for Golden State to pick her or agree to a buyout.

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Right now, Krauskopf isn’t sure of any of those options.

“I’m not going to tell you I know exactly what her future looks like,” Krauskopf said. “She’s a part of our team right now, and she’s an important part of the team, so she’s a tremendous talent. She’s was a big part of how the team got to where they got to this year. Obviously, I didn’t see every single game, but look, we’re going to evaluate everything, and have, you know, have those types of discussions with her and her agent. But I’ve done this long enough where not every player is happy at the end of the season, and you don’t panic, you don’t react. You just stay the course. And you know, my job is to make sure we put the best team we can on the floor.”

Where Kelly Krauskopf thinks Indiana Fever need to improve

A 20-win season for the first time is nothing to balk at, especially for a team that won just five games two years ago. Now, Krauskopf and the Fever are setting their sights on a top-4 finish in the league.

They’ll need some additions for that to happen.

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Krauskopf has experience building a team around a superstar; she did it with Fever legend Tamika Catchings, Indiana’s only MVP in franchise history, to win the 2012 WNBA Championship. Now, with Caitlin Clark on that same trajectory, she wants to build a championship team again. And that starts with experience.

“I do think this team needs a little bit more experience, probably some more size,” Krauskopf said. “If you look at the teams that are in the playoffs right now (New York, Minnesota, Connecticut), they’re they’re loaded with with players who have been there.”

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

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Fever president talks Kelsey Mitchell, NaLyssa Smith, needed additions