It’s been just over a week since the Fever’s 2025 season came to a close with a Game 5 loss to the Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals. Sure, coming one game short of the Finals stings, but considering all the adversity and five season-ending injuries, including Caitlin Clark, making it that far felt like a win in itself. A big part of why they hung tough was the locker room culture, where no one ever quit on each other.

Well, Aliyah Boston has had time to reflect on the season and what the future holds. During the October 8 episode of Post Moves, the two hosts discussed the Fever’s outlook. Candace Parker noted, “Because when [the Fever] stars adding healthy players back [next season]…” and Boston jumped in, finishing the thought: “We are gonna be on a roll. We are gonna be on a roll.”

So, 2026 is already shaping up to be an exciting one, since players will return healthier. “I will say that sometimes being without allows other players to show what they’re capable of the next year and having more.” Parker further said on ‘Post Moves’ with Aliyah Boston. 

However, the offseason comes with its own uncertainties. With CBA negotiations looming and many veterans across the league exploring free agency, the Indiana Fever roster could look very different in 2026. As of now, the Fever have only three players under contract: Clark, Boston, and Makayla Timpson. And, of course, coach Stephanie White.

Now, there are two ways to approach this. Look at it as a challenge to build or as a reason to sulk. Boston is firmly choosing the first path. Parker summed it up: “So, this is going to be an exciting offseason,” and Boston’s enthusiasm was clear: “It’s going to be a great offseason.”

Fever will need to decide on who to core, and Kelsey Mitchell seems to be a lock, assuming the new collective bargaining agreement doesn’t change core eligibility rules. “I’m going to sound like a broken record from last year. The priority will be Kelsey Mitchell, and making sure she remains in a Fever jersey,” Fever GM Amber Cox said.

Mitchell signed a core qualifying offer before the 2025 season, earning the supermax salary of $249,244. Indiana can core Mitchell again in 2026, which would give them exclusive negotiating rights. Sure, she could leave, like Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally did after being cored, but let’s be real. Mitchell stuck with this team through its roughest years, so she’s probably staying put.

The rest of the roster is less certain. Lexie Hull, Sophie Cunningham, Aari McDonald, Odyssey Sims, and others who helped the Fever reach the playoffs could face big changes, especially with Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire entering the league. Hull, after four years on her rookie deal, becomes a restricted free agent in 2026. That means she can talk to other teams, but the Fever has the right to match any offer.

Chloe Bibby, with under three years of service, will be a reserved free agent, meaning she can negotiate with the Fever for more than the league minimum, but not with other teams. Meanwhile, Natasha Howard, Damiris Dantas, Sydney Colson, and Aari McDonald will all be unrestricted free agents. Colson faces an ACL recovery, which could sideline her for much of the 2026 season.

Bree Hall, currently on a hardship contract, would also become unrestricted in 2026, though if she were on a standard deal, she would be reserved like Bibby. Sophie Cunningham, however, an unrestricted free agent heading into the 2026 season, has already announced she will be listening to offers from other teams.

Boston embraced new faces this season, and she will likely have to do the same in the next. However, the Fever will retain their Big 3. And as per Ryan Ruocco and Sue Bird, they should extend a lifetime contract to Stephanie White while they are at it. 

With Stephanie White, all is possible

The Indiana Fever battled their way into the 2025 playoffs, surprising many with a first-round upset and taking the Las Vegas Aces all the way to a decisive Game 5 in the semifinals. Even when Kelsey Mitchell left midgame with crippling cramps and Aliyah Boston fouled out, the team refused to fold, pushing the game into overtime before ultimately falling 107-98. Their grit and determination didn’t go unnoticed and earned Stephanie White her flowers from many.

“I mean, they were so impressive,” Ryan Ruocco said on Sue Bird’s podcast. “We got to remember, this team went 7 years without making the playoffs. And they had Kelsey Mitchell for a good chunk of those years. For one of those years they had Aliyah Boston and they had Kelsey Mitchell.”

“Last year they get Caitlin and especially that second half of the year, things just come together. Everything just works with those three. So if you would have said to anyone, ‘Hey, Caitlin’s going to only play 13 games,’ I think they would have said, ‘This team isn’t going to make the playoffs. They’ll be lucky if they’re sniffing the playoffs. Nevermind be able to make a run to the semifinals.’”

And Ruocco thinks a large part of the praise needs to go to coach White.

The Indiana Fever should go tell Steph White, we’ll sign you to a lifetime contract right now. The fact that they were in that series when you look at the rosters and who was on the floor, it’s an amazing accomplishment that they were able to push that to Game 5,” he added, and Bird agreed. “That’s something not every coach possesses,” said the WNBA legend.

So, yes, as Boston said, they are going to be on a roll in 2026, and every other team better watch out.