Educational Technology and Change Journal

By Jim Shimabukuro (assisted by ChatGPT)
Editor

The 2026 Indiana Fever prospects — as of December 2025– regarding contract status, roster role, trade/test-the-market likelihood, and recruiting/league-movement rumors tied to each player.

Caitlin Clark — franchise centerpiece with guarded health outlook and outside interest. The most concrete fact about Clark’s 2026 picture is that she remains the Fever’s franchise building block — the team has repeatedly framed its roster moves around keeping a core that includes Clark — but her 2025 season ended early with a right-groin injury that shapes how Indiana will manage her minutes and offseason plans. Reporting in late 2025 emphasizes two connected dynamics for Clark: her on-court centrality to the Fever’s future and an intense outside market/interest in alternative leagues (including lucrative offers from newly emerging pro ventures) that she has so far publicly resisted. Those two realities make her 2026 status simple in substance (the Fever want her as the focal point) but complex in execution (health management + outside offers). (AP News)

Aliyah Boston — locked in for 2026 as a foundational piece after the Fever exercised her rookie-scale option. Indiana treated Boston as a cornerstone when it exercised her fourth-year rookie option, and coverage from both the team and local beat writers describes Boston as a long-term interior anchor whose contract mechanics mean she is rostered for 2026 unless the Fever make a rare, strategic long-term change. In short: Boston is under team control for the near term and is talked about as a building block rather than a trade candidate. (Indiana Fever)

Kelsey Mitchell — priority to re-sign (or “core” control). ESPN’s free-agency overview names Kelsey Mitchell as the Fever’s top offseason priority and makes clear Indiana’s front office has signaled it wants to keep Mitchell in place. The reporting explains that, given Mitchell’s breakout All-Star play and her importance to the team’s chemistry around Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston, re-signing Mitchell — or using the team’s procedural options (for example, “coring” her under the roster rules that give limited exclusive negotiating rights) — is a central part of Indiana’s offseason planning. In short, the rumor or expectation reported by ESPN is not that Mitchell is being shopped away, but rather that the Fever will prioritize retaining her and may use mechanisms to extend control or negotiate a multi-year deal. The ESPN article is a broad free-agency primer, but its explicit comment that Mitchell is “priority No. 1” frames most subsequent Fever roster speculation. Source: Alexa Philippou and Michael Voepel, “Which WNBA free agents might be on the move for 2026 season?,” ESPN, Oct. 15, 2025. ESPN.com.

Sophie Cunningham — uncertain future / seeking multi-year security. recovery and outside-league recruiting storylines dominate her near-term outlook. Cunningham’s 2025 season with Indiana ended with a season-ending knee injury; at the same time she’s surfaced as an active recruiter/participant in a new off-season league project (widely reported as “Project B”), which complicates the simple question of whether she’ll be in uniform for the Fever in 2026. The clearest immediate reality is medical: Indianapolis will want a full recovery timeline before making firm contract-level commitments; the other reality is Cunningham’s off-court entrepreneurial/league involvement, which makes her offseason choices an item to watch (Reuters). Sports Illustrated’s report quotes Cunningham directly and summarizes her public comments that she is not currently under contract and that her 2026 situation is “up in the air.” The article frames the concrete rumor as: Cunningham, who fit well on the 2025 Fever roster, is likely to draw interest in free agency and may seek a multi-year deal; Indiana would have to pay to keep her if they want her back. SI therefore casts Cunningham’s status as an open question — she enjoyed her time in Indiana, but she has not been locked into the Fever’s long-term plans as of that December item. That uncertainty has been a recurring theme in beat coverage and is often described as a “rumor” in fans and local media: Cunningham will return only if the Fever match market offers or make a competitive contract proposal. Source: Grant Young, “Sophie Cunningham Admits Uncertainty About Indiana Fever Future,” Sports Illustrated (SI), published Dec. 4, 2025. SI.

Lexie Hull — restricted free-agent status is the defining variable; Indiana can match offers but must decide how aggressively to do so. Team and beat reporting consistently note Hull’s restricted-free-agent status for the upcoming cycle: she has the kind of two-way shooting/defense skill set that other teams might pursue, but because she is RFA the Fever hold matching rights. The rumor thread to watch is whether Indiana will match a meaningful offer or allow Hull to land elsewhere for role/ammo expansion. Coverage suggests a high probability the Fever try to keep her — but it’s conditional (price/role) (Indiana Fever). ClutchPoints’ piece on Lexie Hull emphasizes that Hull will be a restricted free agent going into the 2026 league year and that Indiana holds the right to match any offer she receives. The reporting frames the roster change being discussed this way: league sources and Hull’s own comments suggest other teams could offer Hull a bigger payday, but the Fever can retain her if they decide she’s part of their core by matching offers. The rumor angle here is transactional rather than personal — observers are watching to see whether the Fever will expend cap space or draft-pick flexibility to match outside offers for Hull, or if they will allow her to leave in search of a bigger role or contract elsewhere. Source: Ben Strauss, “Fever guard Lexie Hull reacts to upcoming restricted free agency,” ClutchPoints, Oct. 2, 2025. ClutchPoints.

Natasha Howard — veteran presence with an uncertain but serviceable short-term role; free-agent door not closed. The Fever’s 2025 season review and mainstream pieces characterize Howard as a veteran who contributed both on defense and in leadership; she figures into short-term plans but, like many veterans on modest deals, could re-test the market in the 2026 offseason. Coverage treats her as useful depth whose future depends on Indy’s cap choices and whether the front office prefers younger, cheaper rotation options. (Indiana Fever)

Makayla Timpson — young role player under contract for 2026 and regarded as a developing defensive wing; the team views her as a rotation candidate going forward. Timpson’s rookie review and local coverage emphasize defense, professionalism, and growth potential; she’s one of the players actually under contract into 2026 and is therefore a safer bet to be part of Indiana’s roster next season — likely in a role focused on defense and hustle minutes. (Indiana Fever)

Aari McDonald — short-term signee who impressed but finished 2025 injured; Fever interest in keeping her is apparent if she’s healthy. McDonald arrived as a depth scoring guard on hardship/rest-of-season terms and made a positive impression before suffering a season-ending broken foot. Team pages and outlets describe the front office and fan base as open to retaining her for depth and matchup flexibility — provided she recovers — so her 2026 outlook hinges on health and whether the Fever value continuity in the guard rotation. (Indiana Fever)

Chloe Bibby — short-term rest-of-season signee who provided spacing; injury in 2025 complicates but does not eliminate a 2026 return. Bibby signed to a rest-of-season deal after showing she could stretch the floor; she later was ruled out for the remainder of 2025 with injury, which puts her 2026 role in the “recovery + show-fit” bucket — she’s an inexpensive option to bring back for spacing if healthy. (Indiana Fever)

Odyssey Sims — short-term add who performed well in limited minutes and is an offseason free-agent candidate. Sims joined Indiana on multiple seven-day deals before a rest-of-season contract and provided scoring and playmaking down the stretch. Team reviews indicate she’s a quality short-term veteran option; her 2026 status is likely as a free agent who will be courted based on team needs and her willingness to take a short/rest-of-season type deal. (Indiana Fever)

Sydney Colson — veteran guard whose 2025 injury clouds availability; roster spot likely a short-term/contingent role. Colson suffered a season-ending injury in 2025 and much reporting treats her as a veteran depth guard whose immediate 2026 prospects depend on recovery and whether the Fever keep veteran experience (Colson) or push younger guards into regular roles. The practical read is that Colson is a short-term veteran option if healthy, but her long-term security with the team is not assured. (ESPN.com)

Damiris Dantas — short-term rotational veteran and unrestricted free-agent candidate. The Fever’s 2025 player review lists Dantas as a contributor who is not under contract for the next season and therefore enters the offseason as a free agent. Coverage frames her as a veteran bench piece whose return will depend on fit, cost, and the Fever’s desire for veteran frontcourt depth versus younger, cheaper alternatives. (Indiana Fever)

Aerial Powers — proven veteran who filled short-term needs and whose 2026 outlook is as a veteran depth piece; she has been on short contracts and will likely be evaluated per-need in the offseason. Indiana’s roster moves show Powers signed multiple short deals and then a rest-of-season contract; reporting frames her as an energy/scoring veteran used as injury cover. Her 2026 fate depends on whether the Fever keep veteran scoring depth or prioritize younger wings in training camp. (Indiana Fever)

Bree Hall — rookie season showed defensive upside and potential; she has offseason opportunities (e.g., Athletes Unlimited) and is rostered as a developmental piece with upside for 2026. The Fever’s season review praises Hall’s perimeter defense and competitiveness; reporting also notes she is heading to Athletes Unlimited for additional playing opportunities. Her 2026 value to Indiana is as an ascending two-way guard who should be a roster candidate if the team wants to keep young, cost-controlled defensive wings. (Indiana Fever)

Brianna Turner — signed as low-cost veteran depth in 2025 and treated as a likely unrestricted free agent in 2026; she’s both a potential re-sign target and a tradable roster piece if Indiana needs cap flexibility. Turner’s signing early in 2025 and later player reviews frame her as a short-term veteran addition; salary/tracking sites list her on a one-year deal, which fuels discussion that she may test free agency or be used as a veteran trade asset depending on roster strategy. Turner has also voiced strong opinions about player housing and CBA matters, keeping her in the headlines during negotiations. (Indiana Fever)

Shey Peddy — emergency/short-term call-up who impressed enough to earn a rest-of-season role; typical veteran contingencies apply for 2026. Peddy signed multiple seven-day deals and was eventually signed for the rest of the season after Cunningham’s injury created a roster need; reporting treats her as a steady veteran who can earn another short contract but whose long-term roster spot is not guaranteed. (Indiana Fever)

Fever recruitment possibilities and incoming-player rumors

Two big themes dominate the Fever’s recruitment/targets conversation for 2026. First, the draft and young talent pipeline: coverage of the 2026 draft repeatedly surfaces several prospects that fit Indiana’s needs (wings who can defend and shooters who space the floor), and the Fever hold a mid-lottery/no.10 type pick that makes draft-driven upgrades realistic. Second, the emergence of outside leagues (most prominently the new venture frequently called “Project B”) has injected fresh recruiting dynamics — some Indiana players (and other WNBA veterans) have been publicly linked to Project B signings or recruiting efforts, which could influence players’ offseason decisions and the Fever’s willingness to invest cap space in retention versus letting players pursue alternative income streams. Together, draft options, restricted-free-agency mechanics (e.g., Hull), and outside-league recruitment (Project B signings and outreach) will form the near-term recruiting landscape — meaning Indiana’s front office will balance matching rights, re-signing priorities, draft upside, and the risk that off-season leagues alter player availability or preferences. (SI)

A few brief synthesis notes to make the picture actionable. First, the Fever enter 2026 with a clear core (Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston under team control, Kelsey Mitchell in the immediate picture) and a cluster of veterans on one-year or short deals whose futures will be decided by medical updates, price, and whether Indiana wants to prioritize continuity or cap flexibility. Second, restricted free agents (Lexie Hull foremost) are the most likely single-player sources of uncertainty because matching decisions will test the Fever’s willingness to allocate salary versus using draft leverage. Third, outside-league recruitment (Project B et al.) has introduced a variable that could offer players material income outside the WNBA structure and so acts as both a recruiting tool and a lever in bargaining dynamics. (Indiana Fever)

Filed under: Uncategorized |