INDIANA FEVER IDEAL OFFSEASON MOVES

In case you missed it, the Indiana Fever are fresh off of one of the most vibrant renaissance seasons in WNBA history. The entire state of Indiana came together in support of Caitlin Clark and her comrades, as the team earned it’s first playoff appearance in 8 seasons. Not only was the organization’s uprise huge for itself, the Fever’s ascension was a major development for the entire landscape of the WNBA.

Looking back on what was brings good vibes, but thinking about what is yet to come is where the true excitement begins to brew.

The core starting unit of last season’s squad should each be back, and with so much momentum it is safe to say that new general manager Amber Cox is armed with heavy offseason recruiting ammunition. With some quality talent out there available on both the free agent market and in the draft boards, it will be intriguing to see how the new front office goes about it’s business in building the next batch of Indiana Fever personnel. They will have 3x draft picks (8, 20, 33) to work with along with a number of decisions to make when it comes to retaining some members of last year’s team.

There is no telling what the future holds, but we have a good idea of what an ideal sequence of moves could look like for the Fever this offseason.

GET KELSEY MITCHELL BACK

Kelsey Mitchell had a career year a season ago, and losing her would be nothing shy of devastating. With that in mind, there is no way Amber Cox is screwing this one up. Mitchell should/will be back in Indianapolis next season.

SIGN SATOU SABALLY

Satou Sabally has showcased steady improvement as an all-around player throughout her career, and in recent seasons she has clearly distinguished herself as one of the top forwards in women’s basketball. Sabally would be a perfect fit sliding into NaLyssa Smith’s (more on her to come) starting power forward position, bringing elite floor-spacing and overall feel for the game on both ends of the floor. Imagine trying to defend her + Caitlin Clark running the pick and pop while Aliyah Boston wrestles for low-post position and Kelsey Mitchell/Lexie Hull spot up in the corners.

CHALLENGE NALYSSA SMITH TO WIN 6POY

Some fans were quick to criticize NaLyssa Smith’s performance as the season progressed last year.

Why?

Some will point to her meager 29.2% shooting from distance, but Smith has never been renowned as a sniper. Still, it does seem like she could benefit from a more specialized role. As the team’s hypothetical first player off the pine, Smith would be expected to dominate opposing reserves while simultaneously staying within the flow of the game. If she were to fully embrace this new role, she could quickly become one of the league’s most important bench players.

DRAFT SONIA CITRON

Assuming the onboarding of Sabally were to come to fruition, the team’s clear most glaring need (upgraded play at the 4) would be accounted for. From there, the front office should be looking for guards and wings and wings and guards. More specifically, they could certainly stand to benefit from a second source of Lexie Hull-like contributions on the perimeter. If you have seen Notre Dame’s Sonia Citron in action, then you understand why we like her infusion to the bench unit here. The 6’1” New Yorker has always been a bucket offensively (14.3 PPG, 5.9 APG, 2.5 APG on 45.8% FG/36.2% 3FG/83.6% FT in 98 career games), but the senior’s defensive versatility has been on full display so far this season. Citron capably held her own defending JuJu Watkins in ND’s recent victory over the USC in LA.

BRING IN SAMI WHITCOMB

It became painfully obvious throughout the 2024 season that there really was not much juice in the backcourt rotation beyond Clark and Mitchell. There were times when it was clear that the team’s primary ball-handlers needed some help, and it will be important for Stephanie White to have a trusted veteran hand to turn to off of the bench. Canvassing the crop of available free agents will yield some solid options for the team to look to for backup backcourt minutes, and Sami Whitcomb seems like a match made in heaven when it comes to filling the cracks of what the Fever need from a reserve guard. She is a gritty, hard-nosed competitor who is never shy when it comes to physicality, and is smooth and steady with the ball in her hands. While she primarily always makes the right plays and has. a knack for taking a backseat to her teammates offensively, she has definitely had some microwave-like moments in her career.

BRING BACK TEMI FAGBENLE x ERICA WHEELER x DAMIRIS DANTAS

Continuity is a quiet killer when it comes to culture in the game of basketball. When an organization consistently rewards it’s players for their contributions to a positive culture, it goes a long way in building a lasting culture of unity. Last season, Fagbenle, Wheeler, and Dantas were all unsung heroes of the Fever’s turnaround in their own unique ways. While they each provided strong efforts on the court, it goes beyond the court when it comes to the impact that these type of veteran players make on a team like this.