WNBA Insider Lists Fever Players Possibly Released for Expansion Draft

The Indiana Fever will enter an offseason filled with suspense.

Aside from the free agencies of Kelsey Mitchell and Temi Fagbenle, there's also the rumored departure of NaLyssa Smith. It will be tough to see the Fever get broken up after a breakthrough campaign, but that's the nature of the WNBA.

The Fever will also have to deal with the expansion draft for the Golden State Valkyries in December. All current 12 teams are mandated to submit a list of protected players by November.

According to the WNBA's rules for the expansion draft, a team can only protect a maximum of six players on a roster, with the rest being released to the draft pool.

IndyStar insider Chloe Peterson posited that the Fever will surely protect Mitchell, Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston. Meanwhile, Fagbenle, Smith, Lexie Hull and Damiris Dantas will be under strong consideration, according to Peterson.

For Peterson, that leaves Katie Lou Samuelson, Erica Wheeler, Grace Berger, Victaria Saxton and Kristy Wallace as the players the Fever will possibly make available for the Valkyries.

"But it’s important to remember just because these players are unprotected doesn’t mean they’ll all be picked," clarified Peterson. "Just one player from each team will be picked, so most of these players will have the chance to return to the Fever in 2025."

The Fever will also be on the lookout for new complementary pieces to surround Clark, who exceeded expectations in her rookie year, Boston and Mitchell if she opts to return.

Fever general manager Lin Dunn stated that they "want to play for championships."

The team got swept by the Connecticut Sun in the first round of the playoffs.

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