The Indiana Fever continued upending their roster this week, with the WNBA franchise announcing the departures of both forward Katie Lou Samuelson and guard Erica Wheeler.

First, the team agreed to a contract buyout with Samuelson on Monday. The 27-year-old was on track to enter the final season of her two-year contract with the Fever, on a guaranteed $180,250 salary for 2025.

Indiana reportedly acquiesced to a $106,419 buyout — allowing the franchise just enough leftover funds to sign one additional veteran to a minimum contract. At the same time, that buyout ensures that Samuelson — who will officially become a free agent next week after the requisite five days on the wire — will be made whole even if she inks a minimum contract elsewhere.

Then on Wednesday, the Fever cleared up more space on their roster as free agent Wheeler opted to join Seattle.

Indiana Fever players DeWanna Bonner, Aliyah Boston, Lexie Hull, and Caitlin Clark attend an NBA game.
DeWanna Bonner, Aliyah Boston, Lexie Hull, and Caitlin Clark are central to the 2025 Fever roster. (Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)

Fever aims for the ultimate WNBA prize with refreshed roster

Indiana as been cleaning house this offseason, from sending their 2022 No. 2 draft pick NaLyssa Smith to the Dallas Wings two weeks ago to this week's departures.

Exits aren't the only changes to the Fever's lineup, however. In the last few weeks, the team has successfully re-signed guard Kelsey Mitchell and traded for guard Sophie Cunningham while also stocking up on top veteran talent in free agents DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard, and Sydney Colson.

The moves are part of Indiana's plan to make a major playoff push in 2025, revamping their roster to build off their 2024 playoff appearance — the team's first since 2016.

With a pair of WNBA Rookies of the Year in Caitlin Clark (2024) and Aliyah Boston (2023) forming the team's young core, the Fever are building a tested veteran shield primed for the challenge of a deep postseason run — which can sometimes spell growing pains both on and off the court as fans and players alike grow accustomed to the rejiggered lineup.

That said, Clark is focusing on the fun part of smoothing out the Fever's new-look roster, saying "I think it will be a lot of fun to get in the gym and be with my teammates and just start putting the pieces together and see what works or what doesn't... I think that's what's super exciting."

"The next few years are gonna be amazing for this franchise and will continue to be for hopefully 10-plus years," she continued.

"Hopefully we win a few championships. They’re investing to help us be really good."

Former No. 1 pick Charli Collier joined the long list of WNBA roster cuts Wednesday morning, as the Dallas Wings waived the top pick from 2021 draft.

Many players have found themselves on the wrong side of the league’s roster squeeze, include DiDi Richards, Monika Czinano, Brea Beal and Destanni Henderson — too many, if you ask WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike.

“A whole league is training at home…” she wrote on Twitter.

In the aftermath of the recent cuts, Ogwumike was far from the only player calling for WNBA expansion to increase the number of available roster spots. The 12-team league has a maximum of 144 spots available.

As of Wednesday morning, 18 of the 36 picks from the 2023 draft appear on WNBA rosters. Last season, just 17 of the 36 picks from the 2022 WNBA draft made opening day rosters. And many teams still have cuts left to make to fit under the 12-player maximum by Thursday’s roster deadline.

While much attention has been given to possible expansion teams, former All-Star MVP Erica Wheeler suggested a quicker fix to the roster crunch.

“We pushing get more teams in the W! NO,” wrote Erica Wheeler. “EXTEND the roster to 14 players! That’s just a quick signature!! Adding a new teams gotta go thru 500000 layers! Adding 2 more spots to 12 teams is 24 more spots in the league! This is a easy change!

“And thennnnnn talk about adding teams! Of course we want more teams but extending the roster spots are easier right now!”

Former No. 1 overall pick and 2022 rookie of the year Rhyne Howard called the cuts – and the surrounding discussions – “stressful.”

Connecticut Sun guard Natisha Hiedeman provided encouragement to any player who finds herself suddenly without a team.

“Being a player who has been cut from a WNBA roster in the past I just want ppl to know your value as a person or basketball player does not decrease,” she wrote. “There WILL be another opportunity & when it comes be ready for it. But expansion… WE NEED YOU!!”

Yet despite the criticism of the league, Phoenix Mercury forward Brianna Turner encouraged fans to follow the WNBA and to help the league grow.

“I know there’s upset fans at WNBA roster cuts & I see many people saying how they won’t support the league bc their fave got cut,” she wrote. “I would actually encourage the opposite! Please continue to support the league so it can grow & create more opportunities to support future players!!”

After the Indiana Fever’s preseason win against the Dallas Wings on Saturday, guard Erica Wheeler proposed to her girlfriend Danielle Edwards in a surprise engagement ceremony.

“She’s the one, man. When you know, you know, and I have that feeling,” Wheeler said ahead of the proposal.

In a video posted to the Indiana Fever’s Twitter account, Wheeler is shown directing her teammates, coaches, and family members into place.

“I don’t want her to see me as she’s coming in,” Wheeler explained. “She’s already nosy. She suspects something.”

After Edwards — a Clemson basketball alum who now works as an assistant coach for the SMU Mustangs —  said ‘yes,’ celebration ensued.

“So proud of you,” new Indiana Fever head coach Christie Sides told Wheeler as she gave the 5’7 guard a big hug. “What a day to do this. What a big day!”

Wheeler and Sides have a long history working together. After Sides was hired as Indiana Fever’s new head coach in November 2022, she said her biggest priority was getting Wheeler, then a free agent, to sign with her rookie-filled team.

“When I got this job, she was No. 1 on my list,” Sides told the IndyStar. “I was happy she didn’t have a contract. She was up. It was just perfect timing.”

Sides previously coached Wheeler as an assistant for the Fever during the 2018 and 2019 WNBA seasons, and then again in 2022 as an assistant for the Atlanta Dream. During the 2019 season, Wheeler became the first undrafted player to be named WNBA All-Star MVP.

“She’s just got that experience and she can talk to people,” Sides explained. “It was just really important to get someone like her and her energy. Her energy in the locker room. Her energy out here, it makes a huge difference.”

Erica Wheeler took no mercy on Sue Bird during the Los Angeles Sparks’ game against the Seattle Storm on Sunday.

Halfway through the first quarter of the Sparks’ 81-53 win, Wheeler sent Bird to the floor as she dribbled across her body and pulled up to shoot. The Sparks guard made the shot to extend Los Angeles’ lead to 6-4.

A closer look appeared to show Bird hitting Wheeler’s foot and tripping over her own, resulting in a face-first fall to the hardwood.

Wheeler contributed 17 points, four assists and two rebounds, sending the Storm — who are without Breanna Stewart for the rest of the regular season — to their fourth loss in six games.

The Los Angeles Sparks held off the Chicago Sky down the stretch to secure a 68-63 win at home.

The Sky surged to a four-point lead in the fourth, but a 15-6 Sparks run at the end of the game pushed Los Angeles past Chicago.

Eric Wheeler recorded five rebounds and five assists and led the Sparks with 22 points. The guard was also perfect from the line, knocking down seven free throws.

Te’a Cooper and Amanda Zahui B. contributed 13 points apiece to add to the Sparks’ lead. Zahui B. had a milestone game, notching 1,000 career points with a turnaround shot in the second quarter.

Kahleah Copper collected seven rebounds and led the Sky with 15 points. Ruthy Hebard’s double-double of 14 points and ten rebounds put pressure on the Sparks in the second half, but the late push ultimately was not enough to quiet the Sparks’ offense.

The Sky have now lost seven games in a row, with Los Angeles handing them three of those losses.

The Sky will look to grab a much-needed win when they play the Fever at home on Wednesday. The Sparks will go on the road to face the Mystics on Thursday in Washington.