Fever can guarantee they keep Kelsey Mitchell in free agency with simple move

The Indiana Fever ended their rebuild and are officially back in contention. They returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2016 with three All-Stars leading their roster. Caitlin Clark’s historic rookie season drew the headlines, but Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston were outstanding. Mitchell finished tenth in MVP voting, but she may not remain in Indiana as the Fever look to build a championship roster around Clark.

Mitchell is an unrestricted free agent this offseason. The Fever must bring her back, but the 28-year-old is eager to explore the market after spending her first seven WNBA seasons in Indiana. Mitchell’s scoring and floor spacing are outstanding fits next to Clark, but the decision lies with the Fever’s front office.

Indiana made significant changes to their decision-makers. General manager Lin Dunn has moved to an advisory role with Kelly Krauskopf returning to run things. Indiana just hired Amber Cox as their new general manager, and the front office can guarantee they keep Mitchell with this move.

Making Kelsey Mitchell a core player keeps her with the Fever

Every franchise can core one free agent in the WNBA. The move is like the franchise tag in the NFL. It offers the player a one-year maximum contract and allows the athlete to only sign with the franchise. With the cap expected to spike in 2026, nobody will search for a long-term deal. If the Fever core Mitchell, she will be back on a one-year maximum contract for 2025.

She was the Fever’s highest-paid player in 2024, and Indiana will still have cap space if they re-sign her. That is a perk of having two All-Stars on rookie contracts. They will have a top-eight draft choice and assets to trade. The Fever could make massive upgrades and keep Mitchell on their roster, which is exactly what the new front office should try to make a reality.

Kelsey Mitchell was a top-ten player in the W this season. She deserves a max contract, and it is only for one season. If things do not work, the Fever may look to move on in 2026 when the league will virtually reset.

The Indiana Fever have Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston locked up, but changes are coming. Bringing back Mitchell should be a priority and fans will quickly find out what the new front office has planned. Expect aggressiveness and movement. Stay tuned to see if that works in building a winner around Clark.