Even though Caitlin Clark explicitly stated that she and the rest of the Indiana Fever team will recruit Kelsey Mitchell “as hard as we can” to keep her in Indiana, with each passing day, it increasingly feels like Mitchell could eventually leave rather than stay, at least for many Fever fans. As a result, several analysts and fans have been weighing in on who could be the ideal replacement for the 30-year-old veteran should she decide to take her talents elsewhere.

One of the most recent recommendations, according to WNBA analyst Robin Lundberg, is Minnesota Lynx superstar Napheesa Collier.

“Napheesa Collier and the Indiana Fever may be the ideal linkup,” Lundberg said, reacting to The Athletic’s Sabreena Merchant’s list of priorities for every WNBA team this offseason. “Napheesa Collier would obviously help in a big way. This is under the scenario where Kelsey Mitchell is no longer a member of the Indiana Fever for cap space reasons.”

According to Merchant’s list, the Indiana Fever’s priority this offseason should be improving their perimeter defense, something Lundberg certainly agrees with. However, he also believes that bringing in Collier would be an ideal move if Mitchell eventually leaves, and he has several reasons to support his recommendation.

“Why Phee Collier? Well, aside from the obvious that she’s an excellent player, she could fit right next to Aliyah Boston. She could help the defense in that way. She’s a smart player. She can stretch the floor with her shot. And I think she can handle everything that comes along with playing with the Fever,” Lundberg added.

Lundberg certainly makes some valid points, and there is little question about the calibre of player Collier is. Before her ankle injuries, the Minnesota superstar authored one of the greatest individual seasons in WNBA history in 2025, becoming just the second player ever to record a 50-40-90 shooting season while averaging 22.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game. 

And despite returning late in the just-concluded 2026 season following surgeries on both ankles, the eight-year veteran immediately demonstrated her elite efficiency, averaging 16.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.6 assists while shooting 50.0% from the field and 44.4% from three-point range.

Also, at 30 years old, with eight WNBA seasons under her belt, Collier brings championship-level poise and leadership, both on and off the court. Perhaps this is one of the biggest reasons Lundberg believes she would be an ideal fit for a high-profile franchise like the Fever, which has become accustomed to intense pressure and scrutiny from its fan base. 

It is something Mitchell openly complained about during her exit interview and appears to be one of the primary reasons she might consider leaving Indiana.

“Showing up every day to compete for fans that may or may not like you is hard,” Mitchell said in her exit interview. “… I think this organization is unbelievable, man, but I think that when it comes to, like, really trying to be yourself, it hasn’t always been easy.”

Of course, quite a number of players would probably feel exactly as Mitchell does if they had to deal with the intense scrutiny and fanbase that comes with playing for a franchise like the Fever. However, Lundberg believes that if any player can successfully handle that level of attention and pressure, it is definitely Napheesa Collier.

“There may not be many players in the league, if any, who are more built for that. There’s only a handful of them who I think are built for it. And Napheesa Collier is certainly built for that. She’s got the business acumen to capitalize on the attention that she would get with the Fever… She’s not afraid of things… She knows to stay above the fray. But I think at this phase in her career, she needs to win. That’s one thing she’d be looking for,” Lundberg added.

Another major consideration when discussing potential replacements for Mitchell is how well an incoming player would fit alongside Caitlin Clark. The just-concluded season saw Clark and Mitchell produce the highest-scoring backcourt duo in WNBA history, combining to average 47.0 points per game. 

Whoever eventually comes in to replace Mitchell would need to complement Clark’s playing style and contribute enough offensively to ensure the Fever can maintain their impressive scoring production. For Lundberg, Collier certainly has what it takes to do that, particularly given her ability to play alongside other stars without necessarily needing to be the primary offensive option.

“I don’t think she needs to be the main piece on a team. So, for all those reasons, I think she would fit in. And I think she and Caitlin Clark would have really, really good chemistry,” Lundberg added.

And, of course, the way Lundberg sees it, playing alongside Clark could also benefit Collier’s numbers, just as it has done for Mitchell. The Fever veteran has enjoyed her best scoring seasons in each of the last three years with Clark on the roster, highlighting the offensive opportunities that come with playing alongside a talented playmaker like her.

Of course, all these recommendations and discussions remain hypothetical for now, as Mitchell has yet to officially reveal her decision about her future in Indiana. However, if she eventually decides to leave, Collier’s availability as an unrestricted free agent would certainly make her an ideal option for the Fever. 

“I Haven’t Even Thought About My Future”: Napheesa Collier’s Honest Thoughts on Future With Minnesota Lynx

Having exhausted her one-year, $1.4 million supermax contract with the Minnesota Lynx at the end of the just-concluded 2026 season, Napheesa Collier will enter the upcoming offseason as a free agent. Even better for teams potentially interested in acquiring her services, she will be an unrestricted free agent, as she is no longer eligible for the “core” designation.

With the freedom to decide her future, Collier can choose whether to renew her contract with the Lynx or take her talents to another franchise. However, as of October, when Minnesota’s season ended and she gave her exit interview, the superstar had not given much thought to which direction she wanted to take.

“Honestly, I haven’t even thought about [my future]…” Collier said during her exit interview. “I can tell you I love it here, I love the organization. I love my team and everything like that, but I just haven’t had the time to give that any thought.”

Under the WNBA’s calendar rules, Collier cannot officially negotiate or sign a new contract until February 2027. However, her current contract situation certainly opens up a possibility for the Indiana Fever, particularly if they decide to follow Lundberg’s recommendation in the event that Kelsey Mitchell eventually leaves.