The Indiana Fever are coming off a breakout season. Caitlin Clark immediately changed the entire league. She brought in new fans and turned the Fever around. The longest playoff drought in the W was snapped behind Clark and her unbelievable skill set. There were broken records, sellout crowds, and tons of fresh excitement, but Indiana is not satisfied.
The Fever want to build a serious title contender around number 22. Kelly Krauskopf is back leading the front office and has a plan in place. Expect Indiana to make move this offseason, but they have an unusual draft to navigate in the weeks ahead.
The Golden State Valkyries are joining the WNBA for the 2025 season and will have an expansion draft on Dec. 6. Each current franchise can protect six players, but the rest will be eligible to be selected by Golden State. Who might the Fever lose?
NaLyssa Smith might be unprotected in the WNBA Expansion Draft
Krauskopf and the front office have difficult decisions to make. Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston are the first two protections. The team must protect Kelsey Mitchell to retain the right to make her a core player. Lexi Hull is a no-brainer after her breakout and friendship with Clark. Things get more challenging after those four.
The Fever’s final two protections figure to come from five players. The most obvious name to keep is NaLyssa Smith, but she was not a fit next to Clark. Her production dipped across the board, and the former number two overall draft pick was benched in the playoffs. Indiana would love to find a trade, but if no deal emerges, the Fever may leave Smith unprotected.
Indiana has two free agents in Temi Fagbenle and Erica Wheeler as options to protect, plus Damiris Dantas and Grace Berger. Does the new front office choose the certainty of the latter two or the potential production upgrade? It is no easy call.
The WNBA will not release the list of protected players, but Dec. 6 will be a fascinating night for Fever fans. The Valkyries figure to select someone off Indiana’s roster. Will it be NaLyssa Smith or Damiris Dantas? Do they choose Grace Berger for her upside? It won’t be an easy decision, and the Fever will lose some depth in the process.
Expect the Indiana Fever to aggressively search for upgrades this offseason. They want more talent and depth around Caitlin Clark. The Fever have the means to acquire it but will be searching for the right moves. Stay tuned for all the latest.