Caitlin Clark faces a challenging future. Although the Indiana Fever bolstered its roster for the 2025 season with some of the best players available in free agency, the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), set to take effect in 2026, threatens to dismantle the supporting cast surrounding Clark for the upcoming season.
Clark’s arrival reignited the Fever, ending an eight-year postseason drought. With Clark leading the offense, Indiana finished the season with a 20-20 record. Although they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Connecticut Sun, fans and media alike are optimistic about the team’s prospects in 2025.
The return of Kelsey Mitchell and the signing of DeWanna Bonner to bolster Clark on offense, along with the acquisitions of Sophie Cunningham, Sydney Colson, Natasha Howard, Brianna Turner, and Jillian Alleyne, have renewed fans’ hopes for a deep postseason run. However, the looming CBA casts a shadow over these aspirations.
The Fever vs. the CBA
Indiana is ranked as the fourth favorite to win the 2025 WNBA title, trailing only New York, Las Vegas, and Minnesota. However, a post in the Facebook group “Indiana Fever Fans (Official)” has reminded fans that the upcoming CBA negotiations could unravel everything the team has built.
The post highlighted that when the CBA goes into effect, every player without a rookie contract will become a free agent. In other words, after the 2025 season, Clark will be the only player on the current roster still under contract with the team.
To make matters worse, the Fever sacrificed their first-round pick in the 2025 draft to secure Clark as the top pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. As a result, Indiana will not select a player until the second round of the 2025 draft, further complicating their 2026 outlook.
What’s next for Clark and Indiana
According to the Facebook post, Indiana could use the 19th pick to draftLucy Olsen, Clark’s former teammate from the Iowa Hawkeyes, to begin building a new core around Clark. The Fever may also aim to retain some veterans next year, starting with Lexie Hull and Kristy Wallace, who will be restricted free agents.
The Fever will open the 2025 WNBA season on May 17 against Angel Reese’s Chicago Sky. While the road ahead won’t be easy, Clark’s leadership of a team blending experience and youth could make this one of Indiana’s most memorable seasons.
Read the full article here
