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The Indiana Fever overachieved in the 2024 WNBA season, going all the way to the playoffs after a 1-9 start. They were arguably the hottest team in the league after the Olympic break, closing the season with a 20-20 record and the sixth seed in the standings.
After Caitlin Clark's first season, the team is expected to make some moves to bring more help for the star guard after a Rookie of the Year campaign. ESPN reporter Kevin Pelton believes the Golden State Valkyries could clear the way for this organization to part with their highest-paid player, Katie Lou Samuelson, to have room to build around Clark.
"Indiana might be the most motivated team to get the Valkyries to take a particular player," Pelton wrote on Thursday. "Samuelson fell out of the Fever's starting five after shooting just 35% from the field last season, and she's under guaranteed contract for a team-high $180,250 in 2025, per HerHoopStats.com salary data.
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"Moving that salary would give Indiana massive cap space to build around Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark," he added.
Pelton further stated that the Valkyries could either waive Samuelson and remove her salary from their cap, which would allow them to get some picks in exchange for cash, or they could keep the veteran and see how he fares in the young franchise.
The Valkyries will introduce the first players in franchise history, via the expansion draft, on Friday. The rest of the team protected six players ahead of this draft, holding on to valuable assets to compete next season.
Indiana Fever linked with Dallas Wings star
Following their remarkable 2024 season, Indiana may be an attractive destination for free agents. One of them could be Satou Sabally, arguably the best player on the Dallas Wings roster. The German revealed that she would be testing the waters of free agency this offseason, which led several Fever fans to try to convince her to join Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston in Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Adding Sabally to their star duo would make Indiana an intriguing candidate to compete next season. Caitlin Clark finished the worst season we'll see from her and the sky's the limit for the former No. 1 overall pick.
Satou Sabally is a capable scorer who can attack the rim and stretch the floor. Time will tell if she joins Indy, but this possibility should appease plenty of people within the franchise.
