Overview
- Kelsey Mitchell received the Indiana Fever's core designation at the start of free agency, giving the team exclusive negotiating rights.
- The core tag is a one‑year, fully guaranteed supermax under the new CBA and it counts toward a two‑time lifetime limit for a player.
- Mitchell is coming off a career year with 20.2 points per game and first‑team All‑WNBA honors, making her retention central to Indiana's title push.
- The revamped CBA has created a brief negotiation period and richer deals, which could nudge many players toward short contracts and quick choices before the May season start.
- Expansion clubs Toronto and Portland are pursuing meetings to pitch their projects, while several headliners plan to stay put and an Angel Reese trade to Atlanta has already shifted needs across the market.