The Indiana Fever had quite the run last year. With the likes of Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham, Aari McDonald, and Sydney Colson out due to injuries, not many people had high expectations for the team. However, as they went all the way to the semifinals, the likes of Becky Hammon praised the Fever’s grit following their impressive run.
Now, as the team prepares for the next season, the biggest question would be who the Fever will draft this year. After all, looking at the likes of how they chose Clark back in 2024, their track record looks pretty solid.
At the moment, the Fever knows that they will have the No.10 pick. And as per the mock ESPN draft, the Indiana front office must opt for Madina Okot.
Would Indiana Fever Avail First 2026 WNBA Draft Pick On Madina Okot?
According to ESPN’s Michael Voepel’s recent mock draft, the Fever should pick the South Carolina Gamecocks’ star, Madina Okot.
Justifying the pick further, Voepel wrote, “Okot, who is from Kenya, transferred to spend her final season with the Gamecocks, and has fit in well. She leads South Carolina in rebounding (10.6) and blocks (2.0) while averaging 13.2 points. She is a more of a traditional center, but there is still a place for those players in the WNBA, especially if they defend well.”
WNBA mock draft: Four UCLA players are now projected first-round picks. But there’s a new No. 1 replacing Lauren Betts at the top ahead of Sunday’s draft lottery. https://t.co/Mm7IBpacfd
— ESPN Women's Hoops (@ESPN_WomenHoop) November 21, 2025
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Now then, it does seem like a pretty good prospect on face value. But at the moment, the Fever does have the likes of Aliyah Boston as a solid center. Thus, bringing in another center might not be the best option for Fever at the moment.
Moreover, as Fever needs to prioritize shooting, Okot does not fit the bill. Throughout her college career, the Gamecocks center has not taken a single three-point shot. Thus, the big question that remains is whether Fever will make the gamble?
Would Indiana Fever Sacrifice Their Key Player Amid Salary Issues?
If the stalled negotiations between CBA and WNBPA are not giving enough headaches, the Indiana Fever seems to have one of their own. As per the new rules proposed in the latest CBA talks, teams would be able to retain only five players instead of six allowed last time.
This means that Fever would have to let go of any one player among Clark, Boston, Kelsey Mitchell, Lexie Hull, Sophie Cunningham, and Natasha Howard. On top of that, the recent salary cap proposal of $1.1 million max will also impact the Fever’s choices significantly. Thus, with a lot to sort out, it remains to be seen how things pan out for the Fever in the future.