In a move that will surely have Indiana Fever fans sleeping soundly, the franchise has decided to give a core designation to a Fever veteran guard, per Her Hoop Stats contributor, Alford Corriette. Caitlin Clark’s teammate, who was on a 3 year/$618K contract with Indiana, will receive her first core designation in her career.

On the November 13 episode of the Locked on Women’s Basketball podcast, Indiana Fever President of Basketball & Business Operations, Kelly Krauskopf, emphasized that re-signing longtime Kelsey Mitchell was the top priority of the team. “She’s our number one priority. … we have the opportunity to core her. And it would be sort of irresponsible for me if we didn’t utilize that opportunity.” 

Some of you might be wondering what a core designation actually means, right? Each WNBA franchise has the option to assign a “core” designation to one player during free agency, granting the team exclusive rights to that player who would otherwise enter the open market. Under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), a player receiving the core designation is automatically extended a one-year supermax contract offer. For the 2025 season, this supermax deal is valued at around $249,000.

For Kelsey Mitchell and the Fever, this means that the team has ensured its dynamic backcourt duo—Mitchell and Caitlin Clark—remains intact for another season. Both players averaged 19.3 points per game last season, making them arguably the most efficient backcourt in the league. With their partnership secured, Indiana fans have every reason to dream big for the upcoming season.

Since being selected as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 draft, Kelsey Mitchell has been the epitome of loyalty and consistency for the Indiana Fever, spending her entire seven-year career with the franchise. A scoring machine, Mitchell has led the team in points for five seasons, with the only exceptions being her rookie year and the 2024 campaign. She’s playing the best basketball of her career, earning back-to-back All-Star honors in 2023 and 2024.

But where does she stand among her free agent compatriots?

The WNBA free agency landscape: How Kelsey Mitchell’s deal stands out

Heading into this offseason, Mitchell was widely regarded as one of the most coveted free agents on the market, but her future with the Fever is now secured. The Fever fans will be hopeful that this talented roster finally delivers the trophy!

Mitchell’s re-signing is part of a bigger story unfolding in the WNBA. The 2025 free agency class is one of the most star-studded in recent memory, featuring players like Breanna Stewart, Nneka Ogwumike, and Alyssa Thomas. Stewart is expected to re-sign with the New York Liberty on another one-year deal, continuing her pursuit of a dynasty with the 2024 champions. Meanwhile, Ogwumike is likely to stay with the Seattle Storm due to her strong relationship with head coach Noelle Quinn.

One of the most intriguing situations involves Connecticut Sun stars Alyssa Thomas and Brionna Jones. Thomas, a perennial MVP contender, remains frustrated after last year’s playoff exit, while Jones, fully recovered from an Achilles injury, is expected to command max offers. As teams finalize their rosters, the dominoes of free agency will continue to fall, reshaping the WNBA landscape.

Indiana fans, for their part, will be hopeful of seeing both Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark play for their franchise for years to come. While there’s no certainty of that happening, one thing is certain. Both these superstars will continue to play together for at least another year and continue to entertain us!