The Indiana Fever need to improve in 2027.
Expectations will be sky-high next season after Indiana suffered a second successive postseason elimination at the hands of the Las Vegas Aces. However, the Fever has limited flexibility in free agency and on the trade market, especially if the franchise decides to re-sign All-Star Kelsey Mitchell to a max contract.
That said, the Fever still will be active in trade discussions in order to end their WNBA Finals drought. And Bleacher Report’s Hunter Cruse sees a fit in Indiana for Kayla McBride, the Minnesota Lynx sharpshooter who will be on an expiring contract next year.
MORE: Caitlin Clark’s bloody mouth becomes painful talking point after Fever playoff exit
Cruse projects that the Fever could trade Lexie Hull and two first-round picks for McBride, whose future in Minnesota is uncertain after the Lynx were swept by the New York Liberty in the first round of the playoffs.
“McBride is the best movement shooter in the WNBA and an elite screener, making her an excellent fit alongside Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston,” Cruse writes. “She’s also an outstanding defender with great feel both on and off the ball.
“McBride would immediately become Indiana’s best perimeter defender and address a major weakness for a defense that ranked last among all playoff teams.”
Kayla McBride on if she will be pushing of retirement and be back with the Lynx next season
“I live here now, so yeah. Obviously I appreciate the question and the concern but I still have a lot more to give between those four lines, and im exited for it, I’m not going anywhere” pic.twitter.com/NT7N3iQAfi
— Andrew Dukowitz (@adukeMN) October 1, 2026
The biggest hurdle that Indiana would have to clear to land McBride is the 34-year-old’s $1.25 million salary for 2027.
Seeing as Clark is eligible for — and is likely to sign — a max contract extension under the Exceptional Performance on Initial Contract provision this offseason. That puts Clark in line to make roughly $1.4 million next season.
The Fever simply would not be able to afford McBride unless Mitchell leaves.
Moreover, as Cruse points out, McBride is a seamless fit in the Lynx offense next to budding superstar Olivia Miles. Minnesota could just keep her and see how the 2027 season unfolds before making a decision over her future.
And it would be painful for the Fever to part with Hull, in addition to Mitchell and a top-10 pick in what looks like a deep draft year.
Hull is one of the Fever’s better defenders, though her offensive contribution can be sporadic. She did not attempt a single shot in the Fever’s Game 3 loss to the Aces.
McBride, a five-time All-Star who averaged a career-best 17.6 points per game in 2026, would be a pretty sizable upgrade though. And there is a pathway for the Fever to get her if all sides want to make a trade work.
