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Indiana Fever Kelsey Mitchell (0) and Indiana Fever Lexie Hull (10) smile Saturday, May 3, 2025, during a free throw at a preseason game between the Indiana Fever and the Washington Mystics at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Imago
Indiana Fever Kelsey Mitchell (0) and Indiana Fever Lexie Hull (10) smile Saturday, May 3, 2025, during a free throw at a preseason game between the Indiana Fever and the Washington Mystics at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
One win. That’s how close the Indiana Fever came to the WNBA Finals last season, despite dealing with five season-ending injuries, including that of Caitlin Clark. This time around, the goal is clear: go one step further. But a major hurdle looms in the form of free agency. With nearly 80% of the league hitting the market, the Fever face a tough task of keeping their core intact. Which is why the latest update on Kelsey Mitchell and Lexie Hull becomes even more important.
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As per Chloe Peterson of Indy Star, the Indiana Fever have sent out a core qualifying offer to superstar Kelsey Mitchell and a restricted qualifying offer to arguably the most underrated player on the roster, Lexie Hull. The move signals a clear intention from the Fever front office to retain both as part of their core alongside the likes of Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston. This, in turn, eases much of the uncertainty surrounding Kelsey Mitchell’s future.
For the past two years, Kelsey Mitchell’s future has dominated conversations around the Fever’s free agency. She hit free agency last season, and after intense negotiations, Caitlin Clark’s backcourt partner signed a one-year guaranteed supermax deal worth $249,244, making her the highest-paid player in the league in 2025.
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This offseason, the story remained the same, with the Fever GM making it clear that Kelsey Mitchell was the No. 1 priority. “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,” Amber Cox said way back in October.
Mitchell has spent her entire WNBA career playing for the Fever after being the No. 2 pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft, and over time, she became one of the top players in the Indiana ranks. It was her scoring prowess that made Indiana reach the playoffs last year.
Who could forget Game 1 of the semifinal series against the Las Vegas Aces, where she dropped 34 points to lead the Fever to an 89–73 win? It’s no surprise the front office is exploring ways to bring her back into their plans. That same intent reflects in how the Fever are handling the rest of their core, with Caitlin Clark likely to have at least one part of the tres leches group alongside her.
No one embodies the Indiana Fever spirit quite like Lexie Hull. Since being selected with the No. 6 pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft, she has quietly become a constant in Indiana’s setup. From breaking into the starting lineup in her sophomore year to accepting a bench role during Caitlin Clark’s rookie season,and never once complaining,Hull has done whatever the team has asked of her.
Not many expected much from her last season, especially with the arrivals of DeWanna Bonner and Natasha Howard adding experience to the starting lineup. But Hull earned her way into the starting five by replacing Bonner. She finished the regular season as one of just four players to feature in all 44 games, and even played through a game with two black eyes. The very definition of a ride-or-die star.
With the Fever making their intentions clear about keeping both Mitchell and Hull…the WNBA community, however, appears divided.
Indiana Fever Moves Trigger Mixed Reactions Among Fans
As soon as news broke of the Fever extending qualifying offers to Kelsey Mitchell and Lexie Hull, fans took to social media to share their views.
Smart move. You don’t let 20 PPG walk out the door when you’re building a contender.
— IbtaiHaj (@iamibtaihaj08) April 7, 2026
“Smart move. You don’t let 20 PPG walk out the door when you’re building a contender,” said a commenter recognizing what Mitchell brings to the table.
Kelsey’s brand of firepower on the frontside of the court is unmatched, and she makes scoring look routine. She averages 20.2 points per game, ranking third in the WNBA in scoring. In addition, she shoots 45.6% FG, 39.4% 3PT, making her one of the league’s most efficient high-volume guards.
“She’s the franchise player. I don’t see a problem with that! Congratulations,” another fan said. It was definitely a season to remember for Kelsey Mitchell
- Broke Tamika Catchings’ franchise record for three-pointers.
- Surpassed Catchings’ record for most 30-point games in a season.
- Broke Caitlin Clark’s single-season scoring record.
It wasn’t just Kelsey who had a career season; Lexie Hull did as well. One fan made it clear they want to keep both, saying, “Kelsey puts points on the board, and she can move the ball. Hull is not a consistent scorer, but her defense is top-notch. Let’s hope we keep them both!”
Hull averaged a career high of 7.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game in the regular season. In the playoffs, she took it up another level, including a 16-point, 10-rebound showing in the semifinals, proving her value on both ends of the court. This marks Hull’s first time entering free agency, and with a restricted qualifying offer in place, she can explore offers from other teams, but Indiana holds the right to match any deal, effectively deciding whether she stays or walks.
But while Fever fans are hoping to keep both, the wider WNBA community doesn’t quite feel the same.
“I hope she doesn’t sign with Indiana; there are many other teams that need her. Not here,” one fan wrote about Mitchell. Another added, “She already said she wants a multiyear deal… she’s definitely leaving.” Now, this certainly makes sense…to an extent.
So is there actually any logic behind it? Well, the only real explanation for these fan theories could be the salary cap. The WNBA and the WNBPA have agreed on a “transformational” CBA, one that significantly reshapes the financial landscape.The salary cap is set to jump to $7 million, up from $1.5 million, while the minimum salary will rise to around $300,000. The average salary is expected to touch $600,000 once revenue is factored in, with the supermax projected at $1.4 million.
You would expect Kelsey to sign a supermax deal. And with the special provision for rookie-scale players that allows players to renegotiate the fourth year of their rookie contract and sign a three-year extension if they make an All-WNBA First or Second Team. That means Aliyah Boston could already be in line for a max deal this year, with Caitlin Clark potentially next in line the following year.
This could complicate the Fever’s plans of keeping their Big Three together. One likely approach could be offering Kelsey a one-year supermax, with the idea of negotiating a lower deal next year to accommodate Caitlin’s future supermax. That said, this is still a developing situation and remains a potential concern rather than a certainty. For now, we believe Kelsey will sign a supermax with the Fever, though whether it’s a multi-year deal or a short-term arrangement remains to be seen.
Other than Kelsey and Lexie, there’s also another Fever player that fans don’t want to miss out on in this mad scramble. “Sophie better be next,” demanded a Fever fan who does not want Sophie Cunningham to leave at any cost.
Cunningham became a valuable role player for Indiana in 2025 with her toughness, perimeter shooting, veteran leadership skills, and ability to play both guard and forward roles, giving the team lineup flexibility, making her an asset. Now a free agent, Cunningham will have to announce her future, and fans want her decision to come in the affirmative. Who would want the tres leches to break up anyway?
Other than Cunningham, the likes of Aari McDonald, Natasha Howard, Sydney Colson, Damiris Dantas, and Brianna Turner will also be waiting eagerly to see if the Fever extend qualifying offers or move to negotiate contracts with them.
Who knows what awaits us in the cards and which team each player will sign up with, but what we do know is that something big is about to happen. As the dust of the free agency settles down, we will get to see how exactly the teams line up for the eventual season.
Written by
Edited by
Pranav Venkatesh