“Kelsey Mitchell is the franchise. ” “Kelsey embodies what the Fever are all about.

Only the Fever and the Liberty have three players ranked in ESPN’s top 15.

"It’s a no-brainer,” Sophie Cunningham says.

The Indiana Fever made sure that Kelsey Mitchell was not going anywhere in the offseason. The team made it abundantly clear that Mitchell was their top priority in WNBA free agency, and they proved it by getting her new deal done as soon as possible. Mitchell, a restricted free agent, was Indiana’s first signing as soon as the window opened.

Kelsey Mitchell carried a heavy load for the Indiana Fever last season. Caitlin Clark was not the only teammate who was sidelined for a significant period in 2025. Along with Clark, four other players suffered season-ending injuries for the Fever last season.

Kelsey Mitchell is not going anywhere. After an offseason that was surrounded by some uncertainty, the three-time All-Star committed her future to the Indiana Fever by signing a new contract in WNBA free agency. Mitchell’s new deal came out to $1.4 million for one year.

Sabreena and Chantel take you inside Azzi Fudd and Olivia Miles’ introductory press conferences in Dallas and Minnesota, and in particular - an awkward moment where Azzi was asked about her status with Paige. Then, they dive into the latest entries and commitments from the NCAA transfer portal. Next, it’s onto Winners & Losers of the WNBA Offseason, through the lens of how money is changing the landscape of women’s hoops. They break down A’ja Wilson’s historic contract, the smart free agency moves of Dallas and Indiana, why the Lynx are both winners and losers, and why international talent is flocking to the W more and more. Plus, Sabreena and Chantel’s favorite training camp contracts. No Offseason is a part of The Athletic Podcast Network: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/ 00:00 Intro 00:46 - Azzi Fudd and Olivia Miles Intro Press Conferences 04:58 - Azzi Fudd asked about relationship status with Paige Bueckers 07:13 - The Latest from the NCAA Transfer Portal 11:15 - Offseason Winners & Losers in the WNBA 11:29 - The Impact of the New WNBA Salary Cap on Free Agency 14:23 - The Details Behind A’ja Wilson’s Historic 3yr/$5M Contract 18:01 - How does more money impact the competitive balance of the league? 20:15 - How Rookie Contracts Create More Financial Freedom for the Fever and Wings 25:51 - Why the Minnesota Lynx are Winners and Losers 28:27 - Why International Talent is Flocking to the WNBA 33:32 - Teams are Holding Out for the 2027 Draft Class 35:25 - The Toronto Tempo: Shakira Austin, Nice Weather, and a Canadian Star 37:41 - Our Favorite Training Camp Contracts Related links and articles: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7200805/2026/04/16/wnba-offseason-winners-losers-aja-wilson-paige-bueckers/ by Sabreena Merchant and Chantel Jennings https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7129650/2026/04/15/aja-wilson-wnba-contract-history-aces/ by Sabreena Merchant https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7196630/2026/04/15/wnba-draft-2027-class-prospects-watkins-hidalgo/ by Sabreena Merchant https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/newsletters/no-offseason/ #wnba #wbb #ajawilson #azzifudd #dallaswings #lynx Follow and listen to the audio podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/no-offseason-the-athletic-womens-basketball-show/id1699815468 Get in touch! Leave a comment wherever you’re listening, or email us at NoOffseason@TheAthletic.com Show Links: -YouTube: @No-Offseason -Instagram: @tanooffseason [https://www.instagram.com/tanooffseason] -TikTok: @no_offseason [https://www.tiktok.com/@no_offseason] Credits: -Zena on BlueSky: @zenakeita -Sabreena on BlueSky: @sabreenajm -Chantel on BlueSky: @chanteljennings -Produced by Taneka Burrell -Executive Produced by Andrea B. Scott Visit the Yahoo Women's Sports Hub: https://sports.yahoo.com/womens-sports/?guccounter=1 Full Episodes Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5UWQzuMYdm7txmok7cpMB3YlgkwrT2E0 Shorts Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5UWQzuMYdm72uhBjsd24rsh5teZtgUpS Thumbnail: Christian Petersen / Staff / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images Kevin C. Cox / Staff / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

Fever guard Sophie Cunningham is coming back to Indiana on a one-year deal. She returns alongside Kelsey Mitchell and Lexie Hull.