dailyloe.com – The Indiana Fever have signed guard Kelsey Mitchell to a historic contract ahead of the 2026 WNBA season. The deal is a one-year agreement worth $1.4 million. This makes Mitchell the first million-dollar player in the franchise’s history. The signing follows a new league-wide salary cap agreement.
The WNBA and its players’ association reached a historic deal on March 20. The agreement raised the team salary cap from $1.5 million in 2025 to $7 million. It also increased the individual player maximum salary from $249,000 to $1.4 million. The Fever’s contract with Mitchell is a direct response to this new structure.
Kelsey Mitchell played in all 44 regular-season games for Indiana last season. She averaged 20.2 points and 3.4 assists per game. Mitchell was originally the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft. She has played all nine of her professional seasons with the Fever.
Teammate Caitlin Clark discussed the upcoming season with NBC Sports. Clark gave high praise to Mitchell and her importance to the team. “You know our first priority is to sign Kelsey Mitchell back,” Clark said on the broadcast. “Was first team all-WNBA last year, kind of my running mate in the back court.”
Clark continued her praise for Mitchell during the interview. “She makes it real easy for me,” Clark said. “So there’s nothing like playing for the Fever, I think we’re going to be the favorite to win it all…” Mitchell and Clark have formed a dynamic duo when on the court together.
In 2024, from the Olympic break until the playoffs, Clark ranked third in the league in scoring. She averaged 23.1 points per game during that stretch. Mitchell ranked second in the league over the same period. She averaged 23.4 points per game.
The Indiana Fever are aiming for a championship this offseason. The team had an up-and-down season in 2025. Indiana struggled early, posting a 1-8 record after nine games. Caitlin Clark dealt with injuries and played only 13 games.
Clark averaged 16.5 points, 8.8 assists, and 5.0 rebounds per game in 2025. The Fever eventually rallied to finish the season 24-20. They received the No. 6 seed in the 2025 WNBA Playoffs. Indiana’s turnaround was largely due to Mitchell’s strong play.
The Fever defeated the No. 3 Atlanta Dream in a 2-1 first-round series. Allisha Gray plays for the Atlanta Dream. Indiana then lost to the Las Vegas Aces 3-2 in the semifinals. A’ja Wilson plays for the Las Vegas Aces.
This playoff run was the farthest Indiana has gone since 2015. The team’s performance has raised expectations for the upcoming season. With Mitchell now signed to a record deal, the Fever’s backcourt is secured. The focus shifts to building a championship-contending roster.[]
Source: Yahoo Sports
