Indiana Fever fans have been traumatized by the 2025 injury crisis, so much so that when they saw a leg sleeve on Caitlin Clark after a hard fall against Dallas, they feared the worst. “I knew that would be the first question,” Clark said, shaking her head. The team has also been affected, with Stephanie White taking things slowly with Lexie Hull and Aliyah Boston following their preseason injuries. So, in light of that injury-ravaged season, a new backup option has emerged.

The Indiana Fever is officially entering the final stages of preparation. The team waived three players in one go: guards Megan McConnell, Jessica Timmons, and Kayana Traylor. They have signed Justinne Pissot on a training camp contract that makes 13 out of the 14 possible players on the roster. That’s exactly why the latest waiver wire development suddenly becomes interesting for Indiana.

The Liberty waived Anneli Maley. The forward had an impressive preseason, where she averaged 13.0 points, 6.5  rebounds, and 2.0 assists in the preseason. But it was just a tough roster decision for the New York Liberty, with Leonie Fiebich and Racquel Carrera occupying the backup spots. And for one Fever analyst, the fit in Indiana looks far more natural than it ever did in New York.

“If you bring in Anneli, what does that mean?” Mick Talks Hoops said on his YouTube Channel. “You’ve got more depth at the four, and you’ve got a shooting four that can run. You’ve got more depth at the three. And you can move Lexie Hull or Sophie Cunningham to the two. That gives you guard depth. You don’t need 75 undersized combo guards.”

Maley is the same size as Hull and Cunningham at 6-foot-1, but her ability to crash the boards is arguably more impressive. Hull and Cunningham averaged 4.3 and 3.8 rebounds, respectively. Hull is more of a perimeter defender, while Cunningham is primarily a shooter. The Fever are already overloaded on guards, which will put Cunningham and Hull out of position at different times during the games. 

She could also provide support to Aliyah Boston and Monique Billings, who will primarily defend the paint. The numbers explain Maley’s addition as well. She averaged 15.6 points, 14.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in the WNBL in Australia this past season. The Fever have Shatori Walker-Kimbrough on a training camp contract as a veteran guard and also have Damiris Dantas on an unprotected deal. 

Those are premier candidates who could be waived to bring in Maley. Shatori has averaged 5.6 points and 1.2 assists over her career. Dantas rode the bench with the Fever last year and had an off-color preseason. Of course, there is a risk in signing an unproven player like Maley, but she has arguably shown enough for the Fever to take a punt on her. It’s essential to have top-quality backups who are ready, largely because of the major issue pointed out by Stephanie White. 

Stephanie White admits trouble navigating WNBA reality with the Indiana Fever

Bench production could become one of the Fever’s biggest priorities entering 2026. Before the Aces went on their 16-game winning streak last year, their bench players averaged 18.2 points, 3.0 assists, and 6.7 rebounds per game. 

And during their streak, the Indiana Fever’s bench contributed 22.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. So, anytime the Fever have a chance to strengthen their bench, they should take it. In addition, roster depth and flexibility are especially important considering last year’s injuries and the major changes Stephanie White is still adjusting to.

“If it’s been a tough travel day for whatever reason and we’re scheduled to practice, sometimes we have to make adjustments,” White said. “I think flexibility and understanding that we’re all learning what it means to continue to play more games in the same timeframe is important. That’s a big adjustment in itself.”

The Fever played 26 games with 1 or fewer days of rest last year. The league has expanded to 44 games from 40, increasing the frequency. That certainly played a part in the rising injuries. And the Fever’s backups Dantas and Kimbrough are on the wrong side of 30, while Anneli Maley is still 27.

Maley may still be unproven at the WNBA level. But for a Fever team trying to avoid another injury spiral, the gamble could make far too much sense to ignore.