The Indiana Fever’s strong 2025 season provided every analyst and opposing franchise with a blueprint that could carry any team to contender level. While Aliyah Boston praised the Fever’s strong team chemistry, the 2026 season might feature a different lineup, with 14 of its 17 players entering free agency.
While the situation at many franchises is pretty similar, a WNBA analyst provided the Fever with advice and also a reality check ahead of the upcoming offseason.
WNBA Analyst Raises Question Over One Key Position In Indiana Fever Roster
Agreeing to AB’s team chemistry point, Yahoo Sports’ Ice Young, Cassandra Negley, and Caroline Fenton maintained that the side needs to have most of its players back. Negley even gave an example of the Iowa team’s success, which thrived with Caitlin Clark, with the same core for four seasons.
However, according to Negley, the Fever needs a major upgrade at the number 4 position at the Indiana Fever, currently occupied by Natasha Howard.
“The four is definitely the question. Listen, Natasha Howard has incredible moments. She’s clearly close to the organization. Like, it means something to her. Sometimes, though, when you’re watching games, she’ll do something amazing, and then on the other end, you’re just kind of like, what are you doing? I think if they’re going to do anything, it’s that spot right there,” Negley said.
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While the former champion won the MVP award for the Commissioner’s Cup glory in the 2025 season, her inconsistency affected the results of many games to some extent. The forward herself expressed a desire to return to the Indiana franchise, as Howard shared an emotional post following her exit from the playoffs. However, to win it all, Stephanie White needs a strong team with capable and healthy backups.
As for the franchise, they have their offseason plans in place, which partly depend on the conclusion of the CBA discussions. HC Stephanie White also has her eyes set on a few players.
Stephanie White’s Admission On Indiana Fever’s Offseason Priority
While HC Stephanie White returned to the Fever franchise for the third time in her career, one player other than Clark who impressed her is Kelsey Mitchell. Even though the coach praised each and every individual from the locker room for the impressive 2025 season, she insisted that the veteran guard was a key piece in the team’s success.
“We want to continue to build around her and continue for her to have success. I thought she was so instrumental in everything that we did. You lose everybody that we lost, and Kelsey Mitchell just kept getting better and better and better as the year progressed. And I think that while it’s hard to believe she’s eight years or whatever in this league, that there’s still so much in her,” said White.
As per the report, two WNBA teams are in a race to lure Mitchell from the Indiana Fever in 2026 free agency, so keeping their prized asset at the franchise is a priority, while, as mentioned by the analyst, the Fever would also look for a more consistent performer at the number 4 position to push for the championship in the upcoming season.