Kelly Krauskopf reveals plans for next phase of Indiana Fever basketball 

When the Indiana Fever selected Caitlin Clark with the number one overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, they literally won the lottery. Clark is the brightest young star in women’s basketball right now and immediately made the Fever one of the most-watched teams in the WNBA. As she continues to get used to being a professional player, she will only get better, and the Fever will continue to rise. 

The Indiana Fever have the unique opportunity to build a real powerhouse with their two best players still on rookie contracts. Gearing up for contention, the organization already made some significant moves. 

One of those moves was bringing back Kelly Krauskopf, the architect of the Fever’s previous championship team built around Tamika Catchings. Krauskopf has big plans for the Fever, some of which she revealed when she joined Howard Magdal on the Locked on Women’s Basketball Podcast. 

Kelly Krauskopf has a clear vision for the next phase of Fever basketball

Most fans are aware of what the Fever need around Clark and Boston: 3-point shooting, defense, and some more experienced players. Getting those things is a little more complicated. Fever fans will be glad to hear that Krauskopf has a clear vision for the Fever’s future, starting right now, and shed some light on it during her conversation with Megdal. 

“The reality is, you know, our window of time is now. Now meaning now in the next three or four years…we’re going to be aggressive and really try to put the right players around this group,” she said about the team’s championship window. 

Many young teams like to take things slow and give players plenty of time to grow. Going from college or the EuroLeague to the WNBA is not always an easy transition. Many rookies struggle for a while with the physicality, speed, and skill of the veteran players in the WNBA. Few teams are ready to make big all-in moves when their star players are just getting ready to enter their second and third seasons as pros. 

The Fever have two generational players, though, and when you have that kind of talent, you cannot afford to waste time. Besides, the fact that both Clark and Boston are still on rookie contracts means the Fever will have more financial flexibility if they build around them now rather than when they are more expensive. 

Later in the podcast, Krauskopf provided some more detail on what being aggressive could look like for the Fever this offseason. Many fans have been concerned with Kelsey Mitchell’s future, as she will be a restricted free agent and could garner plenty of attention from other teams. 

Stephanie White already referred to Mitchell as a part of the team’s big three, and Krauskopf gave another encouraging update for all Mitchell enthusiasts among the Fever’s fanbase. 

“She is our number one priority,” Krauskopf said when asked about Mitchell’s future with the team. “Yes, we do have the opportunity to core her, and it would be sort of irresponsible of me if we didn’t utilize that opportunity.”

So, it seems Mitchell’s future with the Fever is already pretty much decided, and she could soon have some other high-level veterans next to her. Krauskopf also mentioned that she wants to try to “sign and grab some more experienced players.”