“I think the most important thing for myself, thinking about these CBA negotiations, [is that] this is the biggest moment the WNBA has ever seen. It’s not something that can be messed up, and we’re going to fight for everything we deserve, but at the same time, we need to play basketball,” she began.

“I think there are different things that we can find ways to say, ‘No, we certainly deserve that, and we’re not going to compromise on that,’” Clark added at USA Basketball’s senior training camp. “And then [there are] other things that we can probably compromise on. You want to understand both sides and be respectful of both sides, but at the end of the day, come to a compromise.”

A crucial deadline looms for the WNBA, as the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations are slated to conclude on January 9, 2026. Failure to finalize a new contract by this date carries the severe risk of the league facing its inaugural work stoppage in history.

“[Our fans crave] the product on the floor. That’s what the fans want to show up for,” Clark said. “So it’s business, and it’s a negotiation, and there has to be compromise on both sides. And we’re starting to get down to the wire of it.”

The WNBA’s first proposal

In early December, the WNBA presented its most recent contract proposal to the Players Association (WNBPA), featuring revised financial terms. This offer quickly met with rejection from the WNBPA, with one athlete reportedly describing the terms as “a slap in the face.”

The proposal did include significant changes, such as elevating the average player’s compensation to more than $500,000, though the minimum salary would hold steady near $225,000.

Furthermore, the deal featured a planned hike in the salary cap to $5 million, contingent on the league’s annual revenue growth. Despite these enhanced monetary figures representing a minor step up from the WNBA’s prior negotiation stance, the players found the terms inadequate.

The central figures leading the negotiations

Leading the crucial negotiations between the players and the league authorities are several prominent figures. The WNBPA President, Nneka Ogwumike, is central to the process, actively representing the athletes’ interests alongside the Union’s Executive Director, Terri Jackson.

On the league side, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has been the primary representative working to finalize the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) before the impending January 9th deadline.

That story could look very different moving forward, as Clark was seen at USA Basketball Camp wearing her national team practice gear, suggesting she has put her groin injury behind her.

“I’m at 100%,” she told the media. “Obviously I need to knock off a little bit of rust and get my lungs back, but my body feels really good. I feel like I’m in a really good spot. So, my main goal is just staying that way.”

Those words have sparked optimism throughout the Fever community, as the disappointment of falling short last season still lingers. However, with their star back on the court, the story could be very different from here on out.

What’s next for Clark and Team USA?

The USA Women’s National Basketball Team is currently focused on preparing for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, which will take place in Berlin, Germany, from September 4-13. The program is in an evaluation period, with recent training camps bringing together Olympic gold medal veterans alongside a new wave of talent, including star guard Caitlin Clark.

After making her senior national team camp debut, the explosive offensive threat is viewed as a key figure in the team’s future as they look to defend their World Cup crown and maintain their global dominance. Clark’s inclusion brings her exceptional shooting range and playmaking to a roster aiming to integrate new talent for the major competition ahead.

When does the next WNBA season begin?

The 2026 WNBA season is expected to officially tip off in May 2026. While the specific dates for the full schedule are usually finalized later in the year, the league consistently launches its regular season in the middle of May.

The season will run through September, followed by the playoffs, with teams eagerly anticipating the start, especially following the integration of recent standout players into the league.

In a recent appearance on the latest episode of the “Bird’s Eye View” podcast, the veteran coach spoke not only about what the presence of the Fever star means to the league, but also praised the work A’ja Wilson has done over the years.

“I think A’ja’s really hard to defend. She needs to crowd around… I think Caitlin Clark is really hard to guard, when she’s healthy, just her ability. She gave us a lot of handful this year. She can shoot it from way out, she can pass it. I think she’s been a tough one,” said Brondello during the podcast.

As the seasons go by, there’s no doubt that the talent level in the league continues to grow rapidly, with more and more players emerging as true standard-bearers of this new era in the WNBA.

A new addition to the league

The newly-minted Toronto Tempo, the WNBA’s first-ever franchise located outside the United States, has signaled its immediate championship ambitions by naming two-time WNBA title winner and former Coach of the Year, Sandy Brondello, as its inaugural head coach.

Brondello, who guided both the Phoenix Mercury (2014) and the New York Liberty (2024) to championships, brings a wealth of experience and a winning culture to the expansion team, which is set to begin play in the 2026 season.

Her hiring is viewed as a major statement by the Tempo’s leadership, providing a proven, high-profile presence capable of attracting top-tier talent as the team begins building its roster from the ground up to represent not just Toronto, but all of Canada.

Clark looks for revenge

After a highly competitive 2025 campaign that saw the Indiana Fever reach the Conference Finals and push the eventual champion Las Vegas Aces to five games, the team’s objective for the upcoming 2026 season is crystal clear: WNBA Finals or bust.

Led by superstar Caitlin Clark, whose impact has already elevated the franchise, the Fever’s core—including All-Star forward Aliyah Boston—enters the year with a single focus on taking the next, crucial step.

Having established themselves as a genuine contender, the young and hungry Indianapolis squad aims to leverage their playoff experience and dynamic talent to finally dethrone the league’s elite and secure the franchise’s first championship appearance since their title run a decade ago.

To further enhance the talent of a star-studded roster, the coaching staff led by Stephanie White has added a new face to the team — someone who will play a key role in player development in Indiana.

According to the team’s official X account (formerly Twitter), Rob Dosier has joined the Indiana Fever as the new player development coach. He arrives to a team with serious championship aspirations.

“We have added Rob Dosier to our staff as a player development coach. Rob will work alongside fellow player development coach Keith Porter,” the franchise announced, via @IndianaFever.

Hungry for redemption

After a historic last campaign that ended with a hard-fought defeat in the WNBA Conference Finals, the Indiana Fever enter the new season with a single, clear objective: finishing the job.

The agonizing loss to the eventual champion Las Vegas Aces served as a powerful lesson for a young, rising core led by superstar Caitlin Clark and also players like Aliyah Boston or Kelsey Mitchell.

With their dynamic offense now seasoned by a deep playoff run, and a renewed emphasis on defensive consistency, the Fever are no longer satisfied with just a playoff berth. The message from the locker room is singular: Indianapolis is focused on taking the necessary next step to dethrone the league’s elite and bring the WNBA title home.

The former Hawkeyes player continues making an impact even during the offseason, thanks to the influence she holds over her teammates in Indiana. Mitchell, one of the Fever’s standout players, perfectly highlighted why Clark is one of the best players in the league today.

“The biggest part that I respected about Caitlin is that she never was bigger than the program,” she on the recent edition of “Bird’s Eye View with Sue Bird,”. “I don’t know if that makes sense, but it wasn’t like she was trying to take over.

“It’s like she wasn’t trying to be bigger than everybody within our locker room, she wasn’t trying to be bigger than anyone else. I think the way that her style of play, it kind of ended up complementing me and complementing AB (Aliyah Boston).”

She also added: “The one thing I love about Caitlin, too, is that we all love basketball the same way. We all have our different styles, ways of playing it, but the passion for it with Caitlin when she didn’t play compared to when she did play remained the same.”

Secure the Big Three

The Indiana Fever front office is heading into the 2026 free agency period with a clear, non-negotiable mission: re-signing veteran star guard Kelsey Mitchell. With franchise cornerstones Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston already locked into guaranteed contracts, retaining the high-scoring Mitchell—who has been an instrumental leader and offensive engine for the team—is the single biggest priority for General Manager Amber Cox.

The Fever views Mitchell’s return as essential to forming a definitive “Big Three” core capable of truly competing for a WNBA championship, leveraging Mitchell’s proven scoring ability to maximize the playmaking of Clark and the interior dominance of Boston. Securing Mitchell will allow Indiana to solidify their foundation and shift their focus to filling out the remaining roster spots around their three superstars.

Building on last season

Following their impressive 2025 campaign that saw the Indiana Fever notch a franchise-best 28-12 regular season record, the focus has immediately shifted to title contention for 2026.

Anchored by the budding superstar duo of Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston, the Fever took a massive step forward, culminating in a thrilling run that ultimately fell short in the WNBA Conference Finals, losing a hard-fought five-game series to the eventual champions, the Las Vegas Aces.

With key free agents to secure and cap flexibility to address remaining roster needs, the Fever organization is determined to use their deep playoff experience as a springboard to claim the franchise’

During a press conference following her team’s playoff elimination, the Minnesota Lynx star didn’t hold back, outlining several key issues she believes the league must address in the short term. Far from dodging the criticism, Engelbert was quick to respond to Collier’s remarks.

“If the players in the W don’t feel appreciated and valued by the league, then we have to do better and I have to do better,” she said, per ESPN’s Alexa Philippou.

Additionally, the commissioner made a brief reference to officiating — one of the main concerns raised not only by Collier, but also by several of her fellow players and even some coaches, who have been openly critical in recent weeks.

“It’s pretty clear that we’re misaligned currently on what our stakeholders want from officiating,” Cathy Engelbert said, per Philippou.

The beginning of a major dispute

Minnesota Lynx forward and WNBA Players Association Vice President Napheesa Collier delivered a scathing critique of the league’s front office this week, declaring the WNBA has the “worst leadership in the world.”

In a bold, prepared statement, Collier specifically called out Commissioner Cathy Engelbert for a “lack of accountability” concerning issues like inconsistent officiating—which Collier asserts undermines the sport’s integrity—and player safety, especially after her own season-ending injury.

The All-Star also revealed private conversations where Engelbert allegedly told her that “only the losers complain about the refs” and suggested star players like Caitlin Clark should be “grateful” for their platform, remarks Collier characterized as a “tone-deaf, dismissive approach.”

Collier’s public challenge, which comes as the league’s collective bargaining agreement nears its expiration, has ignited a firestorm of debate and garnered support from fellow players, placing immense pressure on the WNBA’s executive leadership to address the players’ concerns about governance and transparency.

While one might have expected the former Iowa star to highlight Sophie Cunningham, Kelsey Mitchell, or even Aliyah Boston as the team’s standout figures, Clark looked beyond the obvious and gave credit to none other than Lexie Hull.

In a recent press conference, the team’s star praised her teammate’s contributions, even stating that any team in the league would be lucky to have her on their roster to become more competitive.

“Every team in this league should want a Lexie Hull…I’m like ‘Lex you just play reckless!’ I was holding my breath those last few games but that literally just sums up the type of person she is. She’s selfless…she’s gonna lay it all on the line for this team.”

Lexie Hull’s future in the league

The Indiana Fever’s inspiring playoff run was fueled in part by the defensive grit and timely shooting of guard Lexie Hull, but her future in Indianapolis is now clouded with uncertainty.

Having completed her rookie contract, Hull enters the offseason as a crucial restricted free agent in what is already set to be a transformative year for the league’s roster landscape.

While Hull has expressed a clear desire to return, stating she has “loved my years here in Indiana” and “built a life here,” the Fever front office must now weigh the cost of matching a potentially aggressive outside offer.

With only a handful of players under contract for next season, Hull’s future sits at the center of the team’s vital free agency decisions as they attempt to solidify their core around Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston.

Building a competitive roster around Clark

The Indiana Fever front office is facing a make-or-break offseason as it works to build a championship-caliber roster around superstar Caitlin Clark and center Aliyah Boston.

While the team showed remarkable resilience in making a deep playoff run despite numerous season-ending injuries—including Clark’s own—the goal for 2026 is to surpass that performance by achieving full contention. With a majority of the roster hitting the market, including scoring leader Kelsey Mitchell and key contributors Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull, the Fever must be surgically precise in their free agency moves.

General Manager Amber Cox has made retaining Mitchell the “number one priority,” but Indiana will need to secure not only their current stars but also add durable, high-IQ veterans to provide the two-way complementary talent required to elevate the team beyond being a playoff contender and into an elite WNBA powerhouse.

Cunningham unfortunately suffered a severe knee injury that required surgery, followed by a lengthy rehab process — ultimately forcing her to miss the final stretch of the season, including the playoffs.

True to her style and always active on social media, the former Missouri standout shared an emotional message on her official Instagram account — offering a brief reflection on what this year with the Fever has meant to her.

“15 new friends, a couple fines (&fights), a new tooth, a new knee, and a happy heart …. year 7 is one for the books,” she said via @sophie_cham.

Clark, ever the loyal teammate, replied with a message that fired up Fever fans — and sent a warning to the rest of the league. “Time to run it back,” she said.

Time for redemption

After watching their season end prematurely from the bench, Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham are reportedly laser-focused on a powerful revenge tour with the Fever next year.

Clark, who missed the majority of her sophomore campaign with groin and ankle issues, is determined to finally deliver on the massive expectations that followed her to the WNBA.

Joining her is the fiery Cunningham, whose hard-nosed season was abruptly cut short by a torn MCL. These two key guards—one a generational superstar, the other the team’s emotional spark plug—have carried the frustration of their season-ending injuries throughout the long offseason.

both lead a Fever squad that isn’t just looking to make the playoffs once again, but to aggressively “run it back” and prove the team’s ceiling is far higher than the injury-plagued campaign allowed them to show.

With free agency just around the corner, Hull is one of several players who will either look to renegotiate a deal with their current team or potentially find a new home elsewhere, as other franchises may look to acquire the talented guard.

In recent comments shared by reporter Chloe Peterson via her official X account (formerly Twitter), the former Stanford standout expressed that she’s currently very happy in Indiana — though her future with the team remains undecided.

“I’ve built a life here, and I love this franchise. I love the people, I love the fans, so we’ll see what comes,” Hull said.

Which other players will hit free agency this offseason?

The Indiana Fever are bracing for a massive offseason as they face the looming free agency of nearly their entire veteran roster. Headlining the list of free agents is star guard Kelsey Mitchell, who enters unrestricted free agency alongside key frontcourt player Natasha Howard and sharpshooter Sophie Cunningham.

With a total of seven players hitting the open market as unrestricted free agents—including Damiris Dantas, Sydney Colson, Brianna Turner, and Odyssey Sims—General Manager Amber Cox will have her hands full maintaining continuity around the young core.

Crucially, guard Lexie Hull is a Restricted Free Agent, giving the Fever the right to match any outside offer, but her future is far from guaranteed. The team also holds the rights to Chloe Bibby and will monitor the status of Kristy Wallace. The decisions made this winter will be pivotal in determining if the Fever can build on their recent success and contend for a title next season.

A new era in the WNBA

The upcoming WNBA offseason is set to be one of the most transformative in league history. Negotiations for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) are underway between the league and the players, potentially leading to major changes in player compensation and roster rules.

This pivotal moment is compounded by the expansion draft for the two new teams in Toronto and Portland, Oregon, and an unprecedented number of free agents, which includes nearly every veteran star, creating the potential for a complete reshaping of team rosters and the league’s power dynamic.

Kelsey Mitchell will enter the WNBA Free Agency market but that doesn’t mean the Indiana Fever will stay arms crossed into the matter. While they have Sophie Cunnigham and Caitlin Clark on their roster, the GM of the team has made clear the intentions regarding the departing guard.

The intension is to bring her back. Amber Cox, the Fever’s GM, said “I’m going to sound like a broken record: The No. 1 priority will be Kelsey Mitchell and making sure she remains in a Fever uniform.”

Mitchell was the leader of this team, including the points per game department. Sophie Cunningham, and especially Caitlin Clark, missed many games due to injury, and Mitchell stepped up to guide the team all the way to the WNBA semifinals.

Mitchell admitted her love for Indiana

While Mitchell said she will take her time to evaluate what’s best for her, she left the door open to a return, stating Indiana is her second family. Hence, you’d assume that if the offer is good enough, Mitchell won’t have any trouble of re-signing with the team that drafted her eight years ago.

Mitchell is a prolific scorer and has the ability to create her own shots. However, she also excels when sharing the court with Clark. Once Clark gets double teamed, Mitchell gets open looks and she delivers.

Indiana Fever is coming for a revenge season

While getting all the way to the semis is not bad, especially given how injured the roster was during last season, it’s not what the team wants. By drafting Caitlin Clark, they immediately go from a pretender to a contender. With many of the roster recovered, the mission is clear: retain Mitchell and go for the chip.

Clark and Mitchell are arguably the best backcourt in the WNBA, at least on the offensive side of the ball. Cunningham will come back and she will provide a rim protector on the frontcourt so the guards can ball more freely. The ring is not easy to get, but if healthy, they are a clear contender.

The Indiana Fever are one of the most mediatic teams in the WNBA. However, free agency might make them lose some players. One of those key players hitting free agency is guard Kelsey Mitchell. Having said that, while she didn’t confirm she would come back, she didn’t close the door on continue playing alongside Caitlin Clark.

Per Tony East of SB Nation and Bleacher Report, Mitchell said, “I’m going to take my time. Figure out what my family needs. Indy is like my second family.” These are positive words for the Fever, who can submit an offer but also know they hold some emotional leverage against the other franchises who might want to sign Mitchell.

Mitchell is a three-time All Star and is coming off a career-year. She ended the season with 20.2 points per game, 3.4 assists, and 39% from three. An eight-year veteran in the WNBA, Mitchell is in the middle of her prime and has played all eight seasons for the Fever.

Clark and Mitchell make one of the best guards duo in the WNBA

Last season, Mitchell led the Fever in points as Clark had 16.5 points per game in only 13 games played. Mitchell played 44 games. They both took 15 shot attempts per game but Mitchell’s efficiency was superior.

Clark is having injury issues and she usually faces double teams and tough defenses. She would gladly have Mitchell back as she is the perfect compliment to take advantage of how much attention Clark gets.

Fever had a positive season despite the injuries

The Fever ended the regular season with a 24-20 record and third in the WNBA Eastern Conference. The team was also third-best on offense rating and fifth on pace. Despite not having Clark and many other key players due to injury, Indiana was still competent enough to make the playoffs and win the first round.

The Fever lost the semifinals to the Las Vegas Aces in five games but their defeat had some positives and it’s the fact that the team never gave up despite having an uphill battle.