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’

The back-and-forth between league officials and the true faces of the WNBA — its players and coaches — has continued to escalate as statements from both sides pile up. For now, despite several public exchanges, the concerns raised seem to be falling on deaf ears.

Cunningham stayed true to her outspoken style, taking aim at Engelbert over the ongoing issues. During her podcast Show Me Something, the Fever star didn’t hold back, stating bluntly that it’s always about what she [Engelbert] wants.

“Cathy no one cares. Literally, no one cares,” Caitlin Clark’s key teammate firmly stated.

The outcry from the league’s leading voices

Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier unleashed a scathing critique of the WNBA and Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, delivering one of the most blistering player rebukes in league history during her end-of-season press conference.

Collier declared, “We have the best players in the world… but right now, we have the worst leadership in the world,” while accusing the league office of “negligence” and a profound lack of accountability on issues ranging from inconsistent officiating to player health.

The two-time All-Star also disclosed private conversations, claiming Engelbert was dismissive of concerns over player salaries and that sensations like Caitlin Clark should be “grateful” for the league’s platform—claims Engelbert later publicly denied as “inaccuracies.”

The fiery exchange, which led to Collier reportedly canceling a follow-up meeting with the Commissioner, has put the league’s top brass under intense scrutiny as a contentious collective bargaining period looms.

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.

Now, with the season over, Cunningham enters free agency. The 29-year-old guard made it clear she wants to stay in Indiana. “I have loved being here, and I don’t think that’s news to anybody … I’ve been in the league seven years, and I’ve never been part of a team like this,” Cunningham said, via The Indianapolis Star’s Chloe Peterson.

Still, Cunningham admitted she won’t ignore the free agency market, even as she hopes to re-sign with the Fever. “I might be blonde, but I can’t just not look at other opportunities… but my hope is, I’ve had a great time here, and I would like to continue that”.

This was Cunningham’s first year with the Fever after joining from the Phoenix Mercury. Before her WNBA season was cut short by a torn MCL in her right knee, she averaged 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 steals across 30 appearances.

The Fever’s injury-plagued season

Indiana’s 2025 campaign was defined by injuries. Clark, the franchise cornerstone, appeared in just 13 games before being sidelined. Cunningham’s injury followed, leaving the Fever without their top two players.

Despite the setbacks, head coach Stephanie White’s team showed resilience—knocking out the Atlanta Dream in the first round and pushing the Aces to a Game 5 overtime battle in the semifinals.

Cunningham praised her team’s perseverance while acknowledging the toll of the injuries: “The season was amazing in so many ways, the love in the locker room, the way the fans embraced us … it was also a season in hell. … When it’s blow after blow, it’s exhausting. For us to take a deep breath and know no one else is getting injured”.

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.

Kelsey Mitchell, one of the standout performers for Stephanie White’s team during the final stretch of the campaign, experienced extreme cramping in her lower body and was taken to the hospital following the game. She will remain under medical supervision by the medical staff.

The news was shared through the Fever’s official website via a brief statement providing information on Mitchell’s condition.

“On Tuesday night, Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell experienced extreme cramping in her lower body during the third quarter of the Fever’s game at Las Vegas. Mitchell was transported to a local hospital, where she was treated and released late Tuesday night. Mitchell will remain under the supervision of the Fever medical team and is expected to make a full recovery.”

Injuries: The Fever’s Achilles’ heel

The Indiana Fever’s impressive campaign has been dealt a brutal, season-ending blow as both superstar guard Caitlin Clark and key veteran Sophie Cunningham were out for the remainder of the season.

Clark, the face of the franchise, had her sophomore season cut short by a persistent groin injury, while Cunningham’s gritty two-way presence was lost to a torn MCL suffered late in the year.

The loss of both dynamic scorers and high-impact players, especially in the backcourt, left a depleted Fever roster facing an uphill battle to keep their playoff aspirations alive till the end. This double whammy of major injuries has effectively derailed what was a promising year of growth for Indiana.