The Indiana Fever arrived in New York for the 2026 WNBA Draft with a specific checklist in mind. Defense. Backcourt depth. And a stretch four to help pace the Fever’s rock-solid foundation of Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell.

The pillars are in place in Indianapolis. Monday night at New York’s The Shed at Hudson Yards was all about using pick Nos. 10, 25 and 40 to build around their core. And do so knowing they’re up against some tough salary decisions in the next two years as the Big Three enter max and supermax contract territory.

When Indiana viewed their checklist at the end of the evening, it had the names of three players from the SEC on it with check marks next to their names.

NO. 10: RAVEN JOHNSON (PG, SOUTH CAROLINA)

Dawn Staley has coached some great players. But the South Carolina head coach could barely contain her pride after the SEC title game.

“Raven Johnson is a winner,” the Gamecocks legend told ESPN. “She’s probably the one I’ll miss the most out of all of the players that I’ve coached.”

Now she brings that winning tenacity to Indiana and a golden opportunity to contribute immediately to a team with title aspirations.

Johnson fell to the delighted Fever at No. 10 where she should be an ideal fit for an Indiana team that wants to push the pace and score in bunches.

The point guard, who was projected as high as the top 5, was still available at No. 10 after the Chicago Sky selected UCLA’s Gabriela Jaquez in a somewhat surprising move with the fifth overall pick.

Johnson posted 10.2 PPG, 5.3 APG, and was fourth in the nation with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.41. Her biggest impact, however, will be felt on the other end of the court where the third-team AP All-American is coming off SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Gamecock opponents shot 26.8 percent from behind the arc, down from 35.1 percent with Johnson on the South Carolina bench. That translates to roughly 10 points saved per 100 possessions. It’s the type of defensive prowess that will be welcomed by Stephanie White’s squad, which ranked 11th out of 13 teams in 2025 in defensive rating.

“Caitlin is a player who can play on and off the ball. Raven is a point guard that primarily has the ball in her hands, so it gives us versatility,” Stephanie White said, clearly pleased with the pick. “Thankfully having a couple of different guards gives us the ability to allow Kelsey to rest a little bit too.”

With Clark creating and Mitchell scoring, Johnson will be left to do what she does best by defending and competing off the ball.
Indiana found a fix for their defensive woes by landing a true gamer and winner in the process. For that the Fever receive an A+ grade.

NO. 25: JUSTINE PISSOTT (SF, VANDERBILT)

Stretch four? Check.

Indiana ticked their need for a strong-shooting forward off their checklist with the addition of Justine Pissott with the 25th overall pick.

Just like Johnson, Vanderbilt’s Pissott arrives with high praise from her own SEC coach in Shea Ralph, who described her as the “best shooter in the country.”

Pissott doesn’t need the ball to be effective in opening up the floor and setting screens for Clark. But when she does get the ball in her hands, she’s a matchup problem for opposing teams, shooting 42.2 percent from three on 225 attempts, the second most among high-volume SEC shooters.

The pick also alleviates the need for Indiana to land a shooting forward via free agency, which they were finding to be increasingly difficult with the prospects of big contracts approaching for Clark and Boston.

It’s great value at No. 25 and worthy of a B+ grade.

NO. 40: JESSICA TIMMONS (SG, ALABAMA)

Indiana couldn’t pass on an All-SEC Second Team talent still available at pick No. 40. The Fever saw a strong resilience in Jessica Timmons, selecting the shooting guard from Alabama in the third round.

Timmons started all 34 games for the Crimson Tide, leading the team in scoring with 16.3 PPG, along with 40.0 percent shooting from three and 84.4 percent from the free throw line.

Her impressive final campaign in Tuscaloosa comes one year removed from a season-ending knee injury. It’s that tenacity that the Fever believe will make Timmons the perfect option to provide guard depth and occasionally spell Clark and Mitchell, while not sacrificing a large amount of production.

For that, it’s a respectable B grade.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The SEC was strong again this year and Indiana took notice.

Three draftees from the same conference isn’t a coincidence. Johnson, Pissott and Timmons have played against one another and are familiar with each other’s games and the physicality required to succeed in the highly-competitive SEC.

Just how dominant was the conference? The SEC had 17 players selected across three rounds or 38 percent of the draft. The next closest conference was the Big 12 with three players taken on Monday night.

That’s along with nine international players from Spain, France and Australia (two players apiece), as well as China, Germany, Hungary and Japan.

The Fever stayed in the South.

THE LANDING

Johnson takes some of the pressure on the defensive side of the court off of Clark. Pissott creates space on the floor allowing Clark to flourish, while the depth Timmons provides helps to lighten the burden of scoring every night.

The Fever dipped into the SEC and strategically filled several of the roster needs that have eluded them in Clark’s first two seasons in Indianapolis.

All three newcomers are built for pace and physicality. Johnson’s quick decision-making and defense will help spring the offense. Pissott can pull up in transition and connect from long. Timmons can hold her own shot off the dribble. Translation: none will slow down a Fever offense that wants to run.

Indiana had a checklist and ticked every box. It’s not a draft class crafted for the future. It’s a group that’s expected to step into a win-now attitude.

Max and Supermax contracts will be coming within the next two years for Boston (2027) and Clark (2028). Mitchell is maxed out of Core designations, leaving her future with the franchise in question after this season.

The time is now for Indiana. Johnson, Pissott, and Timmons are being drafted to deliver immediately.