LOS ANGELES — The Indiana Fever will not be countering Justine Pissott’s offer sheet from the Las Vegas Aces, league sources told IndyStar on Tuesday.
Pissott, who the Fever signed directly to a development contract after picking her in the second round of the 2026 draft, signed an standard contract offer sheet with the Aces on Monday, per the WNBA transactions page. When teams sign players to development contracts, they have a two-week exclusivity period in which other teams can not negotiate with the player. After that, other teams can tender offer sheets to that development player for a spot on their standard roster.
The Fever (12-8) had 24 hours, up to 5 p.m. ET Tuesday, to counter the Aces’ offer and give Pissott a spot on the standard 12-player roster. But Indiana, which beat the Aces 84-68 on Sunday, has already decided that it will not counter the offer, as that means it would have needed to waive a player from the standard roster.
“I think (it was) just not having, really, the feeling that we had the ability to open up the roster spot,” Fever coach Stephanie White said of why the Fever did not match the offer. “I think that’s the great thing about these development spots, and the challenging thing about these development spots, is that you have opportunities to develop players, then when they get an ability to get a standard contract … this is what it’s meant for. To continue to advance opportunity for the players, and to continue to keep them ready for when their opportunity presents itself.”
Las Vegas (15-6) will need to waive one of their rostered players in order to put Pissott on its standard roster.
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Pissott came to the Fever in as a high-upside forward out of Vanderbilt with a strong 3-point shot. Indiana signed her directly to a development contract in order to protect her, Fever GM Amber Cox said ahead of the season. Signing her directly to a development spot prevented the Fever from making her vulnerable on the waiver wire following training camp.
The Fever putting Pissott on the standard roster would have likely meant waiving rookie forward Grace VanSlooten or veteran center Damiris Dantas, the two players on the roster who get the least playing time. But that was not something the Fever were willing to do.
“First and foremost, they’re great culture players, great culture teammates, they’re going to be ready when their number is called,” White said of keeping VanSlooten and Dantas over giving Pissott a roster spot. “Grace is a young player who I think can really develop into a solid four in this league, DD is a veteran who understands how to stay ready so she doesn’t have to get ready, who we can play in certain lineups and certain matchups, who are going to give us great minutes in practice as well, and who are going to help continue to elevate and build and pour into our culture.”
Under a development contract, teams can activate players up to 12 times in a single season. Pissott was never activated for the Fever, as White said earlier this season that their aim was to only use development players in injury situations. Bree Hall, the Fever’s other development player, has been activated three times this season — the same three games Caitlin Clark has been out with a back injury.
The Fever do not have immediate plans to sign another player to a development contract.
This story was updated with new information, including the Fever’s intentions.
Chloe Peterson is the Indiana Fever beat reporter for IndyStar. Reach her at chloe.peterson@indystar.com or follow her on X at @chloepeterson67. Get IndyStar’s Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Caitlin Clark Fever newsletter. Subscribe to IndyStar TV: Fever for in-depth analysis, behind-the-scenes coverage and more.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Fever to let rookie development player sign with WNBA’s best team, source says | Exclusive
Reporting by Chloe Peterson, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
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By Chloe Peterson, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
