The WNBA Draft Lottery is set to take place Sunday at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN.
The four teams participating (Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, and Washington) will find out who will receive the #1 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft in April. The current odds favor Los Angeles, giving the Sparks a 44.2% chance to earn the first overall pick.
This year is very similar to last year-- Everyone knows what player is going off the board first. Indiana selected Caitlin Clark with the first pick in 2023, a decision that landed the Fever last season's WNBA Rookie of the Year. This year, UConn's Paige Bueckers seems to be the universal choice for the #1 pick.
I'll say it now: There is a ZERO percent chance that Paige Bueckers falls to Number 8. The Fever, without trading up and losing a ton of assets, will not pair up Clark and Bueckers.
But who could Indiana end up with?
Mock drafts are being thrown around left and right, so let's take a look at who the Fever might have on the board when they're on the clock.
First thing's first: Who will NOT be there
All four teams participating in the lottery have one thing in common: They all need a lead guard.
That means Bueckers, if she's not #1, will be gone by the fifth pick. Notre Dame's Olivia Miles, who is putting up solid numbers to start the season, will most likely be in that group as well. Notre Dame's Sonia Citron and UConn's Azzi Fudd are two other guards to be on the lookout for. Throw in USC's Kiki Iriafen and LSU's Aneesah Morrow, two of the biggest stars in this class, and all are in play in this group.
The thing is... this probably helps the Fever.
Indiana's biggest priority this offseason is to retain Kelsey Mitchell. The 5-foot-8 guard averaged 19.2 PPG on the season, tied for 7th in the league with her backcourt partner Caitlin Clark. The two played extremely well with each other last season and the Fever are expected to make a concerted effort keep the duo in Indy.
In a perfect world, the Fever resign Mitchell and look to round out their roster. Aliyah Boston averaged a near double-double last season, so there's no need to recruit another post-up big. That leaves the wings, and adding a 3-and-D small forward in the draft or free agency would be a huge step in the right direction.
The absolute dream scenario for the Fever: Sonia Citron
Citron would be a phenomenal pickup for the Fever. The Notre Dame senior shoots at a high clip from beyond the arc (37% in her career), but the kicker is her size and rebounding ability-- Citron is currently averaging just under six rebounds per game over the course of her collegiate career. If she slips to number eight, she will most likely be packing her bags for Indianapolis. Bring back Mitchell on top of that, and the Fever will be a three-point behemoth in the league.
Should Citron become unavailable in the first seven picks, Indiana still has some great choices. UCLA's Janiah Barker is an interesting choice, and she is currently listed on ESPN's mock draft as the Fever's selection. Barker has the ability to stretch the floor and adds great size to compliment Boston on the glass. This all depends on if the 22-year-old junior declares for the draft.
South Carolina's Te-Hina Paopao could be a direct replacement for Mitchell, should the Fever guard decide to take her talents elsewhere. Paopao has a similar build and shoots over 40% from three-point range. Paopao is a better distributor, however, and could lead to more open looks for Clark.
At the end of the day, Indiana's pick will likely be one of the many names listed in this article. April is a long way away, and there is still free agency to consider. The lottery will be the first step in a long line of offseason events that will affect the landscape of the WNBA in 2025.
IFR will continue to keep a close eye on potential Fever draftees as the offseason marches on.