CBS Sports released the first edition of its WNBA Mock Draft on Monday, predicting that the Indiana Fever will land UCLA forward Janiah Barker with the 8th overall pick in April.
Barker, a junior transfer from Texas A&M, packed her bags for Los Angeles this past offseason to team up with fellow junior Lauren Betts. Barker is yet to start through four games this season, but the 6-foot-4 forward is averaging a near double-double in 21 minutes per game off the bench (11.3 PPG, 9.8 REB).
This prediction only adds to the recent rumors surrounding Indiana forward NaLyssa Smith. Smith, following the Fever's loss to Connecticut to eliminate the Fever from the 2024 WNBA Playoffs, removed the Fever from her Instagram bio. This led to controversy surrounding the former #2 overall pick and left her future with the team up in the air.
The rumors intensified when new Indiana head coach Stephanie White excluded Smith's name from her "Big Three."
"To be able to come back and work with another #22, a generational player in Caitlin Clark, a generational player in Aliyah Boston," said White. "And Kelsey Mitchell, who I think has weathered the storm of Indiana Fever basketball, and I felt like had the best year of her career this year.
"When you think about teams, you think about a core three. You think about a big three," said White. "To be able to work with that big three, and continue to work and put pieces around them to compete for a championship back in my home state, it couldn't have aligned any better."
It is unclear whether or not there was any intent behind those words, but it certainly does put Smith's return status in question.
Barker would be solidify the forward position should Smith not return
This prediction, presumably, is largely based on this controversy. The Fever are already in need of a wing, as there is no guarantee that Mitchell will return (her contract has run out, making her a free agent this offseason). It certainly appears as though White intends to retain the Fever guard, however, which means the attention now shifts to the backcourt.
Smith had a solid first half of the season, recording seven double-doubles through 26 games. She then missed a month due to injury and cooled off upon return, watching her minutes fluctuate as a result. With this in mind, and the social media incidents, maybe a change of scenery is on Smith's mind.
Should Smith return, however, and the rumors are rendered baseless, Indiana will likely look towards a three-point threat on the wing. As mentioned in a recent IFR article, Notre Dame's Sonia Citron fits this mold. She is currently predicted to go to the Mercury with the 12th pick in the CBS mock draft.
Barker's name, however, continues to swirl throughout the Indiana fanbase.