Fever fans are buzzing ahead of the season. Last year marked their first playoff appearance since 2016, led by Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark and All-Stars Aaliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell. But their run ended quickly, falling in the first round to the Connecticut Sun, coached by Stephanie White, who took them within a game of the Finals.

Enter Stephanie White, the Illinois native Indiana pursued last offseason but couldn’t sign due to her contract. This time, her ties to Krauskopf and a desire to be closer to home sealed the deal. Heading towards the new season, Coach White made clear what she wanted her team to look like moving forward. “I think offensively, we can be more creative. I think we can utilize more versatility, utilize certain players in different ways,” White said. She wants to have an up-tempo team that improves on defense.

“It’s clear that we have two foundational players, probably three. You get two Rookies of the Year in a row with a frontcourt player in Aliyah Boston, (a guard) Caitlin Clark. And then Kelsey Mitchell, the veteran leadership that Kelsey was able to provide, we need to help her. We need to add to that.” White said upon her arrival in October last year. Fever did just that as they brought back Mitchell for her eighth season in Indiana after being cored in free agency.

Indiana’s system will revolve around Clark, with White emphasizing freedom in playmaking. That makes Sophie Cunningham, a tough defender and sharpshooter, a perfect fit.

With a revamped roster featuring key acquisitions, the Fever now shift their focus to the upcoming draft. But with no first-round pick, they’ll need to get creative to maximize their selections. It’s one last chance to add to your ranks before the season gets rolling.

The 4 players Indiana Fever are eyeing in the draft:

Emily Ryan (Iowa State) 

Emily Ryan has garnered attention for her leadership and all-around play at Iowa State. At 5’11”, Ryan has good size for a guard. And her ability to read the floor and make high-IQ plays sets her apart. She is a solid shooter and playmaker (9.7 PPG and 6.2 APG last season), making her a reliable option in Stephanie White’s offense. Defensively, Ryan is known for her tenacity and defensive versatility. That being said, Indiana could also pass on Ryan if they want to focus on bolstering their frontcourt.

Caroline Ducharme (UConn)

Caroline Ducharme has been a standout at UConn, known for her ability to score at all three levels. Standing at 6’2″, Ducharme has the size and shooting ability to make an immediate impact in the WNBA. Playing alongside projected no. 1 pick Paige Bueckers, she knows a thing or two about playing with elite playmakers and is adept at reading and creating space.

She is a dangerous offensive player who can score from beyond the arc, mid-range, and inside the paint. Her versatility as a guard-forward combo makes her a valuable asset. However, her injury issues (head and neck complications) can prove to be a deterrent. The 22-year-old played only 4 games last season before neck spasms led to her missing the entire season. She made her first appearance in over 15 months last month on the 15th in the game against the Butler Bulldogs.

3. Rayah Marshall (USC)

Rayah Marshall has some excellent physical attributes. The USC center possesses good strength, athleticism, and mobility at 6’4. From a basketball standpoint, she crashes the offensive glass very well, and her back to the basket game has continued to improve. With Boston as a mentor in Indiana, she’s got the potential to become lethal in the post. She’s comfortable attacking the rim off the bounce and has shown flashes of her shooting touch in the mid-post/mid-range area.

The 21-year-old averaged 7.9 PPG and 8.4 RPG last season with a free throw accuracy of 75.4% in the NCAA basketball division 1. Can she be the right fit to partner Caitlin Clark?

4. Sedona Prince (TCU)

Prince has a lot going for her in terms of how this season has gone at TCU. The Frogs were the top team in the Big 12 and made it to the Elite 8, where they fell to a strong Longhorn squad. Prince is averaging 17.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks. She is a traditional center, and there is still a place for that type of player in the WNBA. However, Prince has dealt with injuries and personal issues that Indiana may be wary of.

Standing at 6’7″, she would add real size to Fever’s frontcourt consisting of the phenomenal Aaliyah Boston. To the delight of coach White, she would then have the luxury of not just resting her All-Star but also the ability to field lineups that give them a size advantage.

The third time ain’t no charm

The Indiana Fever have 2 second-round picks and 1 third-round pick in the draft, limiting the possibility of acquiring star talents from the draft as they’ve done the past two years. Having done a good job utilizing the potential of their first-round pick to acquire Cunningham, Indiana will now look towards the draft for complementary pieces that build upon a solid roster that Krauskopf has built in the off-season.

While all these picks would further bolster Indiana’s squad heading into the season, it is undeniable that Kelly Krauskopf has already assembled a scary squad. The salary cap continues to rise by 3% each year through 2027. That’s a hurdle to teams like Indiana, who wanted to establish a solid core in the long term. This might be because players are demanding shorter contracts to ensure they’re getting paid right. This made for a very unpredictable off-season that the Fever were able to sail through smoothly.

With limited draft capital, the Fever must prioritize immediate-impact players to compliment Caitlin Clark. Will they find another hidden gem, or will their offseason moves prove to be enough? The answer comes on April 14.