The Indiana Fever fell short of the championship despite their outstanding performances in the playoffs. Without their star players, they stretched the eventual champions, the Las Vegas Aces, to overtime of Game 5. Now, ahead of the 2026 season, Indiana Fever’s GM Amber Cox sheds light on offseason strategy and player development plans. Many see an upgrade in the front court would make the side contender once again, with Azura Stevens as the perfect piece fitting in the system.
Against the Las Vegas Aces and the Atlanta Dream, the Fever team lacked a bit of firepower and defensive stability under the rim. Even though Aliyah Boston and Natasha Howard delivered their best, it couldn’t bring the championship back to Indiana.
Azura Stevens Could Be The Solution For Many Questions
In 2025, the Indiana Fever already added experienced DeWanna Bonner to the forward lineup as perfect support for the Howard-Boston duo. Still, the former Mercury star’s untimely exit, coupled with injuries to multiple stars, forced the side to go for guards, leaving the forward line thinner for the playoffs.
Natasha Howard delivered big for the Fever and even clinched the Commissioner’s Cup MVP after winning the title, but her inconsistency and limitations affected the rotation and even the results of the games. But Howard formed a special bond with the fans and team, making her nearly an integral part of the team. Howard even shared a heartfelt message after the Indiana Fever’s semifinal exit. But to go a step ahead, Azura Stevens could be the perfect solution.
Azurá Stevens tonight 🔥
— Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) July 6, 2025
• 21 points
• 12 rebounds
• 2 assists
• 7/14 FGpic.twitter.com/FHvdcwjAEA
The 29-year-old forward recently thrived in LA, putting up solid numbers alongside Kelsey Plum. She is a good perimeter shooter as well as a midrange defender, where the Fever struggled a bit in the 2025 season.
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Howard proved a worthy partner for Aliyah Boston; the Sparks forward has a slight upper hand in the comparison with her better three-point shooting percentage. She shot 38.1% on 4.4 attempts this past season; with CC’s playmaking, this number could even go up with the number of attempts.
LA Sparks With Critical Decision Over Azura Steven
After the 2025 season’s performance and her few franchise records, it’s no brainer that the LA side would love to have her back in the lineup. But healthy Dearica Hamby and Cameron Brink will start ahead of Stevens, where she will be looking for a more regular spot on the floor.
The 2021 champion could get a starter role in the Indiana rotations, as Howard (if re-signed) could take a bench role and step up for a few impactful minutes. Caitlin Clark reflected on a tough decision that the franchise might need to take in the offseason, but missing out on Stevens might be a big mistake.