4 Fringe Indiana Fever who deserve to return in 2025

The Indiana Fever are committed to improving in year two with Caitlin Clark. They made the playoffs for the first time since 2016 but were not satisfied with a first-round exit. Clark is already elite, and the entire organization wants to build a champion around the face of the W. The Fever have already revamped their front office, but are not stopping there.

The Fever will have cap space and a top-eight draft pick at their disposal. Expect the new decision-makers to actively look for trades as they search for more talent in free agency. Kelly Krauskopf and the front office will explore every avenue in building around Clark.

Indiana needs more talent and depth on their roster. Aliyah Boston gives the Fever one of the best forwards in the W, and the franchise plans on keeping Kelsey Mitchell in the backcourt. They have three All-Stars but need the right role players to seriously contend. These players fit around Clark and should be kept, despite playing fringe roles this season.

4. Kristy Wallace

Wallace struggled to make shots this season, but she started 15 games for a reason. The 28-year-old is a career 37. 4 percent 3-point shooter. Wallace is a high-energy player capable of playing a reserve 3-and-D role. She needs her shoot stroke to return after hitting just 29.3 percent from three in 2024. If that happens, the 5’11 guard instantly becomes a bench option.

This one feels least likely to be a long-term fit. Wallace is under contract for 2025 but must play significantly better to stick around. She was out of the rotation entirely after the Olympic break and played just 100 seconds in the playoffs.

Wallace has a ton to prove, but her skill set remains complementary to Clark’s. That is reason enough to write this off as a poor season and give her another shot.

3. Erica Wheeler

The veteran point guard committed to mentoring Caitlin Clark. Wheeler was the Fever’s starter in 2023 and second-highest paid player last season. It would have been easy for her to be upset about the number one overall pick’s arrival. Clark took over as the starter immediately, but Wheeler remained willing to help in whatever way possible.

The Fever cannot give her $200,000-plus in her new contract, but they should look to bring Wheeler back. The 33-year-old is a free agent. She spent six seasons in Indiana, including her only All-Star campaign. Wheeler will remain a reserve playmaker, but her selflessness and experience would be valuable to the young Indiana squad.

The Fever will be searching for a backup point guard if Erica Wheeler departs and finding someone to fill that limited role won’t be easy. Indiana should look to bring back their veteran and allow her to keep mentoring Clark. Whatever she is doing worked in year one.

2. Grace Berger

The seventh overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft had a promising rookie season, but her playing time and impact dipped mightily in year two. The 25-year-old needs more time to develop. She is a plus-shooter but is trying to put the other parts of her game together.

The Fever want to put shooting and defense around Clark. Having someone capable of shooting north of 40 percent from long distance under contract for multiple years in massive. The salary cap is expected to rise in 2026, and Indiana wants as many women as possible who are already locked in.

Berger fits that bill and may even work her way into the nightly rotation. Development takes time, and the Fever should see this draft pick through.

1. Temi Fagbenle

She averaged the sixth most minutes per game in Indiana this season. The 32-year-old had not played in the W since 2019 and was a pleasant surprise. Fagbenle averaged 6.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks in 18.9 minutes per game.

Fever head coach Christie Sides inserted Fagbenle into the starting five for Game 2 of their first-round playoff series versus the Sun. It is never an easy decision, but they needed to change things up from NaLyssa Smith. Fagbenle played well off Clark as she did all season.

At 6’4, she provides some size Indiana needs in certain matchups. The 32-year-old is another veteran presence capable of helping the team when the games matter most. She will set screens and do the little things.

Everything is about building a title contender around Caitlin Clark. The Indiana Fever plan on accomplishing that goal, but need the right pieces. These fringe players should stay, but upgrades must be made. Stay tuned to see how it all shakes out.