As the WNBA offseason gets underway, the Indiana Fever’s front office has made its primary objective unequivocally clear: retaining star guard Kelsey Mitchell. However, with Mitchell entering unrestricted free agency after a career-best season, rival teams are reportedly positioning themselves to lure the prolific scorer away from the franchise she has represented for her entire professional career.
The Fever’s firm stance was articulated by General Manager Kelly Krauskopf during a media session on October 2. Krauskopf left no room for ambiguity regarding the team’s plans. “I’m going to sound like a broken record from last year. The priority will be Kelsey Mitchell, and making sure she remains in a Fever jersey,” she stated, emphasizing that securing Mitchell’s return is a consistent and paramount goal.
Krauskopf also lauded Mitchell’s performance during the 2025 campaign, a season in which the guard elevated her game to new heights. “Wow. What a season for her. She laid it all out on the line,” the GM commented. Acknowledging the difficult conclusion to the team’s year, she added, “Obviously, sad the way that it ended for her in Game 5. But just tremendous.”
The general manager concluded her remarks by reinforcing Mitchell’s central role in the team’s strategy moving forward. “[Mitchell] will continue to be a focal point as we enter free agency,” Krauskopf affirmed.
A Career Season and Crucial Team Role
This declaration from Indiana’s leadership is a direct response to Mitchell’s exceptional 2025 season, which saw her finish in the top five in the voting for the WNBA’s Most Valuable Player award. This achievement places her among the league’s most elite talents and significantly increases her market value as she becomes an unrestricted free agent. For the first time, Mitchell has the autonomy to sign with any team without the Fever having the right to match the offer.
Her value to the Indiana franchise extends beyond individual accolades. Observers of the team recognize Mitchell as the engine of its offense. Her ability to score and create plays is considered essential for the system to operate at its maximum potential. This is particularly true in the context of her backcourt partnership with Caitlin Clark, where Mitchell’s veteran presence and ball-handling skills help to alleviate the playmaking burden on the younger star. The dynamic between the two guards is seen as a cornerstone of the Fever’s competitive identity and a key reason the organization is determined to keep the duo intact. The combination of her scoring prowess, leadership, and established chemistry with Clark makes her departure a scenario the Fever’s management and fan base are desperate to avoid.
Potential Suitors Emerge
While the Fever’s intentions are clear, other WNBA franchises are equally aware of Mitchell’s capabilities and availability. In an article published by The Athletic on October 16, league analysts Sabreena Merchant and Ben Pickman identified two teams as logical and potentially aggressive suitors for Mitchell: the Seattle Storm and the Dallas Wings.
The analysis suggests that both organizations have roster needs that Mitchell could directly address. For the Dallas Wings, the addition of a veteran scorer like Mitchell would provide a significant boost to their backcourt. The primary benefit would be to create a dynamic offensive pairing with their superstar, Paige Bueckers. During her 2025 rookie campaign, Bueckers often faced intense defensive pressure as the team’s main offensive threat. Signing Mitchell would introduce another elite scorer who commands defensive attention, thereby creating more opportunities for Bueckers and diversifying the Wings’ offense.
Strategic Fits in Seattle and Dallas
The situation with the Seattle Storm is described as “more interesting” due to the team’s current roster uncertainty. A significant portion of the Storm’s core players are also set to become free agents, meaning the team could look vastly different at the start of the 2026 season. In this scenario, Mitchell could be signed as a foundational piece around which to build a new-look roster. Her proven scoring ability and leadership would provide immediate stability and a clear identity for a team in transition.
Despite the compelling logic behind these potential moves, the bond between Mitchell and the Indiana Fever remains a powerful factor. Having spent her entire WNBA career in Indianapolis, she has cultivated a deep connection with the team and its supporters. This long-standing and mutually beneficial relationship has led many to believe that she will ultimately choose to remain with the Fever. As the free agency period progresses, the league will be watching closely to see whether loyalty and familiarity prevail or if a new challenge with a rival contender proves too compelling to resist, setting the stage for a major shift ahead of the 2026 WNBA season.