INDIANAPOLIS —
As soon as the Indiana Fever were eliminated in the opening round of the 2024 WNBA playoffs, all eyes turned to the offseason and what the team would do in free agency.
After a historic season in which Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark helped Indiana reach the playoffs for the first time since 2016, the Fever have a promising future. As a relatively young team, most players are under contract for next season.
Amber Cox is the team's new general manager, and Kelly Krauskopf has been added to the front office as president of basketball and business operations.
Ahead of April's WNBA draft, this year's free agency period only gets more complicated with the addition of the latest WNBA team, the Golden State Valkyries. Prior to an expansion draft on Dec. 6, current WNBA teams can protect up to six players from being drafted by Golden State.
Which Indiana Fever players are free agents?
- Kelsey Mitchell (unrestricted)
- Erica Wheeler (unrestricted)
- Temi Fagbenle (restricted)
When does free agency begin?
Free agency doesn't officially begin until January when teams can start negotiating with free agents, per the WNBA. Players can start signing new contracts on Feb. 1.
How does free agency work?
The WNBA has two types of free agents, unrestricted (UFA) and restricted (RFA).
An unrestricted free agent is a player that can negotiate with any team during the free agency period without any obstacles.
It gets a little more complicated for restricted free agents. A restricted free agent is a player with four years of experience whose contract has expired. A player's current team can send them a qualifying offer anytime for a one-week period in mid-January.
If that current team does not offer a qualifying offer, the player will be a free agent able to sign with any team in February.
Restricted free agents can also receive offers from any team in the league in late January. A player can negotiate an offer sheet — a multi-year contract — with another team, but their current team can match that offer and keep the player.
It's important to note that not every player whose contract has expired become free agents as they may fall under three other categories: cored player, reserved player or suspend-contract expired.
What is the WNBA salary cap?
The WNBA has a hard salary cap, so teams can't go over that number at all, excluding league-granted hardship exceptions.
In 2024, each team was allocated $1.46 million. It is estimated the 2025 salary cap will be $1.51 million, a number likely to grow after a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is negotiated after the 2025 season. A new broadcast rights deal will also be negotiated at the conclusion of the 2025 season, which will undoubtedly inject the league with far more cash.
A team can only have 12 players on the roster, meaning any new free agent signing is a big deal.
Who are the top players available?
The Fever have a big decision to make with guard Kelsey Mitchell as questions remain on whether she'll re-sign with the team or not. Other teams might look towards luring her away as she proved her offensive prowess in the second half of the season.
However, she could be given a core designation, giving the Fever exclusive rights to her while she gets a supermax deal.
Kelly Krauskopf, the Fever's new president of basketball and business operations, made it clear in her introductory press conference Tuesday that the team would like Mitchell back next season.
"We wouldn't be where we are today without Kelsey Mitchell," Krauskopf said. "She's clearly a very foundational piece. She's got seven years of being in and out of this building. She went through a lot as we were preparing to be even better as a better place to play ... She's extremely important to the success of the future. We intend to have lots of conversations and make sure she knows that, and I think she knows that."
Krauskopf has even gone as far as calling the Clark and Mitchell backcourt one of the best in the league.
Other notable upcoming free agents include Kelsey Plum (Las Vegas Aces), Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury), DiJonai Carrington (Connecticut Sun), Nneka Ogwumike (Seattle Storm) and Natasha Howard (Dallas Wings).
What has become clear is that the Fever are now a desirable free agent destination with Clark and a young core at the helm.
Krauskopf said as much in her press conference, comparing Clark to Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton in her playmaking abilities that make her someone players want to play alongside.