Three-time WNBA All-Star Kelsey Mitchell reportedly plans to re-sign with the Indiana Fever. According to ESPN’s Chiney Ogwumike on Friday, both sides are finalizing the deal worth $1.4 million for one year.

The news came after Indiana extended a core qualifying offer to Mitchell on Monday, which gave the Fever star an automatic one-year supermax contract in exchange for exclusive negotiating rights.

1

Mitchell also became the team’s first $1 million player. She will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of her contract in 2027.

Mitchell’s $1.4 million contract will take up 20% of the Fever’s salary cap in 2026. She is the fourth player on Indiana’s roster for the upcoming season. The Fever entered the offseason with only three players under contract: Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston and Mikayla Timpson.

The Fever re-signing Mitchell was widely expected, as the team brass has said that keeping the core trio of Clark, Mitchell and Boston was its No. 1 priority. Mitchell led an injury-riddled Fever team last season. She earned her first All-WNBA first-team selection and was an MVP finalist.

Potential ramifications of Kelsey Mitchell’s supermax contract

The Indiana Fever still have some difficult financial decisions to make to fill out the rest of their roster. On Monday, Indiana extended a qualifying offer to guard/forward Lexie Hull. While the 6-foot-1 wing could negotiate with other teams, Indiana could match any contract offer. Another key free agent is Sophie Cunningham.

According to salary cap analyst Patrick Arsenault on Friday, after the Kelsey Mitchell signing, the Fever have $2,780,958 (39.73% of cap) of committed salaries for the 2026 WNBA season. This means they have $4,219,042 in remaining cap space to fill the eight roster spots. Under the new CBA, teams would also have two developmental roster spots.

2

In addition, Aliyah Boston is eligible to earn a maximum contract of $1.19 million in 2026, as part of a new provision called EPIC (Exceptional Performance on Initial Contract). She is on the final season of her rookie-scale contract. Whether Boston will sign a three-year extension to get the maximum remains to be seen.

All eyes are on the Fever’s next moves, as they are deemed as one of the favorites to contend for the 2026 championship.