What’s next for Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever after being eliminated from WNBA playoffs - USA Today
Before the 2026 WNBA season began, the Indiana Fever had the third-best betting odds to make the WNBA Finals. Stephanie White was the favorite to win Coach of the Year, and Caitlin Clark had the second-best odds for MVP.
Those expectations laid out by online sportsbooks did not come to fruition.
The Indiana Fever’s 2026 season is over after losing a winner-take-all Game 3 in the opening round of the WNBA playoffs to the defending champion Las Vegas Aces, 94-83, on Thursday — the same Aces team that knocked them out of the playoffs last season.
A'ja Wilson scored 36 points to power Las Vegas to the win.
The Fever were led by Kelsey Mitchell with 23 points. Aliyah Boston tallied 19 points and 10 boards, and Clark finished with 18 points for Indiana.
Now the Fever are one of many teams that will turn their attention toward the offseason with changes and free agency looming.
No, Clark is on her rookie contract and won’t be a restricted free agent until after the 2027 season.
In her third season as a pro, Clark was third in the WNBA in scoring and second in passing with 22.3 points and 8.3 assists per game. She also finished fifth in 3-pointers made per game with 2.9.
As long as the superstar guard is healthy, expectations will continue to be high for the Fever.
Yes, the 30-year-old shooting guard from Missouri will hit the open market this offseason after making a salary of $665,000 this season. Cunningham was fourth in minutes played for Indiana this season, averaging 22.2 per game.
Cunningham was one of the most productive role players in the WNBA this season, ranking seventh in 3-point shooting percentage with a 41.9% mark. She also ranked third in points per play (1.17) and points per scoring attempt (1.31), and was fifth in effective field goal percentage with a 33.3% clip.
Simply put, Cunningham is a great shooter and helps teams win games. She’ll be a sought-after free agent.
Perhaps the Fever’s No. 1 priority this offseason will be retaining Clark’s backcourt mate, fellow All-Star guard Kelsey Mitchell. She’s a free agent after making $1.4 million this past season and will once again be looking for a big pay day.
In her ninth season as a pro, Mitchell averaged 24.7 points per game, which was second-best in the WNBA, and led the league in 3-point shooting with a 45% clip. The Ohio State product also shot a career-best 50.9% from the floor.
Other free agents for the Fever include Ty Harris, Myisha Hines-Allen and Grace VanSlooten.
Indiana owns their first-round pick this year. Where the Fever select will be determined by the WNBA draft lottery. The Fever also own their natural second- and third-round picks.
Barring what would be a stunning announcement, yes, White is expected to remain as the head coach of the Fever. She’s 52-37 in two seasons with a pair of trips to the postseason. White also led the Fever to a win in the Commissioner’s Cup in 2025, and earned a gold medal as an assistant coach under Kara Lawson with Team USA at the FIBA World Cup this past summer.
