The Indiana Fever are focused on retaining key players during the 2024 offseason. Kelsey Mitchell, a WNBA All-Star and the team’s second-highest scorer this season, has the opportunity to explore free agency. Mitchell, who helped lead the Fever to their first playoff appearance in her seven-year career, averaged a career-best 19.2 points per game, shooting 40.2% from beyond the arc.
Erica Wheeler, who was the starting point guard prior to Caitlin Clark being drafted first overall in 2024, shifted to a mentorship role, coming off the bench to average 3.6 points per game. Temi Fagbenle, a restricted free agent, returned to the WNBA for the first time since 2019. Despite injury struggles, she played a key role in the Fever’s playoff run, starting in Game 2 of their series against the Connecticut Sun and averaging 6.4 points and 4.7 rebounds in 22 games.
Notable Fever free agents include Mitchell, with a 2024 salary of $212,000, Wheeler at $202,154, and Fagbenle, a restricted free agent, with a $76,535 salary cap hit.
In terms of salary structure, Katie Lou Samuelson’s cap hit was $175,000 in 2024, with a salary increase to $180,000 in 2025, the final year of her contract. Other players with significant contracts include Damiris Dantas, NaLyssa Smith, Lexie Hull, and top rookie Caitlin Clark, who is signed through 2027 with a four-year, $338,056 deal. Aliyah Boston and Grace Berger also have long-term deals, while Kristy Wallace and Victaria Saxton are under contract through 2025 and 2026, respectively.
The WNBA salary cap for 2024 is set at $1.46 million, with an estimated increase to $1.51 million for 2025. As restricted free agents, players like Fagbenle can receive offers from other teams, but the Fever can match any offer to retain them.
Additionally, with the WNBA expansion draft coming in December 2024 for the Golden State Valkyries, teams can protect up to six players. Golden State will have the option to select players from existing teams, including one unrestricted free agent per team.
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