“You think about best available,” Amber Cox said of the Fever’s draft position during a media availability last month. The Indiana Fever didn’t just make headlines this offseason—they made statements. From trading for Sophie Cunningham to bringing in a new head coach in Stephanie White, this isn’t last year’s Fever team. It’s not even last month’s team. And now, with a franchise-changing trio—Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, and Aliyah Boston—locked into the core, all eyes are on what comes next.
White has her hands full from day one. The Fever tip off the 2025 season on May 17 against the Chicago Sky, and between now and then, she’s tasked with figuring out a starting five, a workable rotation, and what to do with a roster jammed tight by cap constraints.
But here’s where things start to click: Indiana didn’t just throw talent at the wall this offseason. They made smart, intentional moves that reflect a clear identity. And nowhere was that more obvious than in the 2025 WNBA Draft.
“I don’t think what the Fever did in the draft is bad,” WNBA analyst Tony East said after the final pick. “It became very clear they just targeted good fitting players.” Good fitting players. That phrase is the heartbeat of everything Indiana’s done since drafting Caitlin Clark.
Some fans expected flashier names or picks based purely on positional needs. But Indiana didn’t draft based on hype—they drafted based on vision. With their core, Fever was already an offensive team. But their last year lapse on the other end? It had them finishing second-last this past season. So that is what Cox focused on– defense and versatility. That is what they staked up– the best fits and East is all nods. “They want to play very fast. They want to spread the floor,” he said. “That is exactly how a team should look around Caitlin Clark to me in the WNBA.”
Enter Makayla Timpson, taken at No. 21 out of Florida State. She’s not stretching the floor yet, but she doesn’t need to. What she brings is effort, rebounding, and pure rim-running energy. Then came Bree Hall at No. 25. Overshadowed at South Carolina by bigger names like Kamilla Cardoso and Te-Hina Paopao, Hall might be the draft’s biggest sleeper. Her game? Simple but deadly: “3 and D.” The two-time national champion runs. She spaces. Locks in defensively. And she plays with energy.
With the 28th pick, the Fever went north, snagging Yvonne Ejim out of Gonzaga. Physical, tough, and relentless on the boards. While she’s not a floor-stretcher yet, her physicality gives Indiana a bruiser who can balance out all the shooting and speed.
Put the three picks together and you get a clearer picture. This wasn’t about drafting for buzz. This was about system building. “They were just targeting players who could fit what we have determined their system to be this offseason,” East summed up. But there comes the task.
The Indiana Fever’s roster crunch is as real as it gets. With only one spot open, four hopefuls are vying for a chance to prove themselves. And Tony East is ready with his speculation about Fever’s plan.
Training camp becomes crucial for Caitlin Clark & Co.
Inidana Fever currently has 15 players. 10 in the core, 2 signed for training camp (Jillian Alleyne and Jaelyn Brown), and 3 from the draft class. A total of 18 players will be allowed in a roster for a training camp. So that number is not the issue. What is, is the cap space Fever will be left with.
After putting together the salaries of the 10 core players and the buyout amount for Katie Lou Samuelson, the franchise will be summing up to a total of just under $1.4 million. The salary cap? $1.5 million. This would mean, they can’t fit all the rookies in.
“The reality is that those four players plus anyone else are fighting for one spot, unless one of the top 10 is waived. But I think that’s why the ‘fit’ matters so much for the Fever,” East adds. So now, the training camp will be where the team decides who gels the best with the roster. “If someone doesn’t fit their style, they are disqualified… They just won’t enter the season with 12 unless one of the 10 is waived,” he concludes.
The Fever have roughly $112,000 to fill their final two roster spots. That amount barely covers the minimum salary for two rookies. So if more than one make the team, it’ll mean the front office either sees real potential in their upside or believes they’re more versatile and cost-effective than an established veteran.
The post National Reporters Predicts Indiana Fever’s Future Action as Caitlin Clark’s New Teammates Leave Him Stunned appeared first on EssentiallySports.
