The Indiana Fever sent a core qualifying offer to guard Kelsey Mitchell, per the WNBA’s transactions log.
Similar to the NFL’s franchise tag system, sending a core qualifying offer to Mitchell gives her a supermax contract in exchange for exclusive negotiating rights. The contract is automatically a one-year deal, but Mitchell and the Fever can negotiate a longer contract if both parties are interested in an extension.
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It should come as no surprise that Mitchell is a top priority for the franchise, given that the front office has made it clear for months that retaining her is the goal, regardless of the new CBA salary implications. As Clark dealt with an eventual season-ending injury, Mitchell kept the Fever afloat.
Mitchell averaged 20.2 points per game last season, which ranked third in the WNBA. The 5-foot-8 guard helped lead Indiana to the WNBA semifinals.
The Fever sending the core qualifying offer to Mitchell doesn’t fully guarantee that Mitchell will sign with the Fever for 2026. But, it gives the Fever exclusivity to her rights, ensuring that the franchise would receive something in exchange for her rights should Mitchell request a trade.
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Mitchell will be eligible for the $1.4 million supermax, thanks to the WNBA’s new CBA. The supermax accounts for 20% of the Fever’s $7 million salary cap.
Mitchell was also cored in 2025, meaning this is the last season Mitchell is eligible to be cored. Players can only be cored for two seasons, and, starting in 2027 in accordance with the new CBA, only players with fewer than seven years of experience in the WNBA can be cored.
During her March appearance on NBC’s “Basketball Night in America,” Caitlin Clark reinforced the importance for the organization to re-sign Mitchell.
“Our first priority is to sign Kelsey Mitchell back. She was first-team All-WNBA last year. Kind of my running mate in the backcourt. She makes it really easy for me,” Clark said.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Indiana Fever send core qualifying offer to Kelsey Mitchell
