Overview of Kelsey Mitchell’s Supermax Contract

Kelsey Mitchell, who has been one of the central figures for the Indiana Fever since being drafted in 2018, signed a supermax contract for the 2025 season. A supermax deal is the maximum contract allowed under the WNBA’s salary cap rules, which are typically reserved for players who meet specific eligibility criteria, such as being named to multiple All-WNBA teams or earning an MVP award. In Mitchell’s case, the supermax status likely reflects her performance and impact on the court, particularly in her scoring ability and leadership.

The supermax contract represents a significant portion of a team’s available salary cap, meaning that the Fever’s remaining budget for free agents will be directly affected by the size of Mitchell’s new deal.

The WNBA Salary Cap Structure

The WNBA has a relatively complex salary cap system, and understanding it is essential for determining how much room the Fever has left to sign free agents.

For the 2025 season, the WNBA’s salary cap is set at $1.3 million. This amount represents the total that a team can allocate to its players’ salaries, and it is divided among the team’s roster spots. Here’s a breakdown of some key elements that factor into the cap:

1. Max Salaries and Supermax Contracts:
   • The supermax salary for 2025 is expected to be around $230,000, which is the maximum a player like Kelsey Mitchell could earn.
   • A regular max salary, for players who are not supermax eligible, is typically around $215,000.
2. Base Salaries for Role Players:
   • Players who are not on max or supermax deals earn varying amounts, with the lowest base salary being around $60,000, which is for players at the end of the roster.
3. Cap Holds:
   • Teams must account for cap holds, which are placeholders for players that are currently on the roster but have not yet re-signed. These cap holds are calculated based on the player’s prior year’s salary or the league minimum.
4. Salary Exceptions:
   • Teams can exceed the cap in certain circumstances. This includes the use of exceptions such as the core designation, where a player is considered so important to the team that they are given special treatment regarding salary cap restrictions.

Indiana Fever’s 2025 Roster and Cap Space

Let’s take a detailed look at the Indiana Fever’s roster and how Kelsey Mitchell’s supermax deal affects the team’s remaining budget.

Kelsey Mitchell’s Supermax Deal

The signing of Kelsey Mitchell to a supermax contract clearly represents the most significant expenditure for the Fever in 2025. Her supermax salary will take up approximately $230,000 of the team’s salary cap. This is a high but justifiable cost for a player of Mitchell’s caliber, who is regarded as one of the top scorers in the WNBA.

Other Salaries and Roster Considerations

To assess how much room the Fever has left to sign free agents, we must also look at the salaries of the other players on the team. The Fever’s roster composition for 2025 will include a mix of established veterans, young talent, and possible rookies who may make the team through the draft.

1. Current Players with Contracts for 2025:
   • As of 2025, the Fever likely have a few players on guaranteed contracts, and these players’ salaries must be subtracted from the cap space.
   • If the team has veterans on moderate contracts, these could be in the $100,000–$150,000 range, and combined with Mitchell’s salary, could already account for a large portion of the cap.
2. Cap Holds for Players with Expiring Contracts:
   • Players on expiring contracts or free agents from the previous season will have cap holds. These cap holds are often based on the player’s previous salary. For example, if a player was making $80,000 last year, their cap hold for 2025 might be that same amount until they re-sign or sign with another team.
   • If the Fever have several free agents, these cap holds must be accounted for in the budget, which can take up considerable space.
3. Salary for Draft Picks:
   • The Fever will also have the option to sign players from the 2025 WNBA draft, which will impact their budget. Rookies are typically offered contracts that range from $70,000 to $80,000, depending on where they are selected in the draft.

Estimated Remaining Budget for Free Agents

To determine the remaining free-agent budget for the Fever after the supermax signing of Kelsey Mitchell, we need to consider the following assumptions:

• Mitchell’s supermax salary: $230,000
• Other players’ salaries on the roster for 2025 (based on previous contracts and expected cap holds): $650,000
• Cap space used for draft picks and other players: $150,000

Let’s break it down:

Total Salary Cap for 2025:
$1,300,000 (Salary Cap)
Minus Kelsey Mitchell’s Supermax:
$1,300,000 – $230,000 = $1,070,000
Minus Salaries of Other Players:
$1,070,000 – $650,000 = $420,000
Minus Cap Holds/Draft Budget:
$420,000 – $150,000 = $270,000

This leaves the Fever with approximately $270,000 in remaining cap space to sign additional free agents. This number could vary based on any other moves made in the offseason, such as trades or waiving players to clear cap space.

How the Fever Can Maximize Their Budget

With roughly $270,000 in remaining cap space, the Fever will have the ability to add several quality free agents or possibly a high-profile player if needed. However, maximizing this budget will require careful planning, as the team will have to consider a few key elements:

1. Targeting Role Players:
   • The Fever are likely to use their remaining cap space to fill specific roster needs rather than signing another max player. This might involve adding depth at positions like forward or center, or acquiring a key reserve guard who can provide scoring off the bench.
2. Using the Veteran Minimum Exception:
   • To stretch their remaining budget further, the Fever could sign veteran players to the minimum salary, which is typically in the range of $60,000. This allows the team to add experienced players who may be able to provide leadership and veteran savvy while keeping costs down.
3. Rookie Contracts:
   • The team might also consider adding rookies through the WNBA draft to bolster their roster. Rookies will typically be signed for less money than veteran free agents, and with the remaining cap space, the Fever could use their draft picks to secure young talent at cost-effective salaries.
4. Trades and Other Cap Manipulations:
   • If the Fever need more cap space, they could explore trading players with larger contracts or using other mechanisms like sign-and-trade deals. These moves would allow them to either free up cap space or acquire players who fit better within their salary constraints.