The WNBA 2026 Season will not only celebrate its 30-year anniversary but also the transformative CBA that gave the players more power in the league. The breakthrough deal gave teams significant financial muscle but also some restrictions on how to use it, forcing them to choose between players who would be more impactful.
For the Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark, though, the vision is clear as they have their ‘top’ player in sight. The WNBA expansion draft and free agency have already created significant chaos for the franchises, forcing them to think deeply about their player selections. The Fever playmakers also spoke about the situation at their franchise and Kelsey Mitchell.
Caitlin Clark Sees Kelsey Mitchell As Top Priority For Indiana Fever
The 2026 free agency provides franchises plenty of options to choose from, but picking the perfect match makes a championship roster. Clark already wants the Fever team to re-sign Sophie Cunningham, and has now presented her second “must-have ” player for the 2026 season.
Talking about the upcoming season and Mitchell’s free agency situation, Clark said, “I mean we were trying to win it all last year, that’s certainly what we’re trying to do this year. It’s a very unique situation. I think there’s over a hundred players in the league that are free agents, so we really only know about five people, or three people that are going to be on our team next year. But I feel like we have a great core. You know our first priority is to sign Kelsey Mitchell back.”
Caitlin on the upcoming Fever season: “I mean we were trying to win it all last year, that’s certainly what we’re trying to do this year. It’s a very unique situation. I think there’s over a hundred players in the league that are free agents, so we really only know about five… pic.twitter.com/j1BFHwiilM
— Jess (@FeverBandwagon) March 29, 2026
“She was first team all-WNBA last year, kind of my running mate in the back court. She makes it real easy for me. So there’s nothing like playing for the Fever, I think we’re going to be the favorite to win it all. Adds a little pressure, but that’s what you love about it. We got a great squad, a great coach, great support staff, so it’s super-exciting,” CC added.
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While the team is looking to build a formidable roster in the upcoming season, the league will also aim to generate bumper revenue following the mega CBA deal. One person who did it in the past and can do it again would be Clark, as the reports showed the former Iowa star was responsible for 25% of league revenue in the 2024 season.
The player also constantly talks about the growth of women’s sport; she is far from ‘trying’ to do it intentionally.
Caitlin Clark Talks About Responsibility Of Growing Women’s Sports
The CBA Deal was a byproduct of the rise the league experienced in the last two seasons, where the gradual growth over the years turned into a mega spike in just two seasons. The Class of 2024 was hugely responsible for this turnaround, and here’s what the player has to say about it.
“I honestly think I’m just very much myself. That’s how I try to approach it. I’m not here. This was never my goal to change women’s sports. Like I just showed up and I played and I loved every single second of it. And, I feel a responsibility to show up and put a smile on everybody’s face that buys a ticket and comes and watches us play,” Clark said on the NBC network.
Caitlin on her role in the growth of women’s sports
— correlation (@nosyone4) March 29, 2026
“This was never my goal to change women’s sports. I just showed up and I played and I loved every single second of it. I feel a responsibility to show up and put a smile on everybody’s face that buys a ticket.” pic.twitter.com/FboReds2Ma
With an exciting brand of basketball and championship aspirations, the 24-year-old is all set to make a bigger impact on the WNBA landscape.