The WNBA will ask its teams to select players in Monday’s WNBA Draft without knowing what their rosters are. Typically, the draft happens months after free agency is mostly settled, but the collective bargaining agreement negotiations extending into late March have brought extreme circumstances.
The free agency moratorium continues into the weekend with players eligible to sign Saturday. The Indiana Fever have already sent a core qualifying offer to Kelsey Mitchell and a restricted qualifying offer to Lexie Hull — intentions to keep them alongside three contracted players in Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston and Mikayla Timpson.
So, the Fever have a baseline of what their roster will look like, and more dominoes are likely to fall prior to the 7 p.m. draft Monday. Several mock draft selections made earlier in the week for the Fever, who hold the 10th overall pick, have since shifted.
UCLA’s Gabriela Jaquez was a popular pick for the Fever earlier in the week. But after the Bruins dominated South Carolina in their national championship win, in which Jaquez had a game-high 21 points (8 of 14), 10 rebounds and five assists, it rose the stock of several players, Jaquez included.
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Here’s a look at five mock drafts in which the Fever may take a guard from a Final Four contender, draft invitees and more.
WNBA mock draft 2026: Who will the Indiana Fever pick in the WNBA Draft?
Meghan L. Hall, USA TODAY: Gianna Kneepkens, UCLA
“Kneepkens ended her college career shooting nearly 50-40-90, which is impressive and rare in today’s college landscape. The UCLA guard’s game isn’t flashy, but it’s often timely. Kneepkens knows how to step into the big moments, as she did in the national championship when she delivered two massive 3-point baskets during an extended Bruins’ run.”
Sabreena Merchant, The Athletic: Raven Johnson, South Carolina
“Raven Johnson is a winner, and that’s what the Fever are trying to do. Coach Steph White will love Johnson’s defensive intensity, and Johnson’s strength and long arms make her switchable and scheme-versatile. That defensive acumen makes Johnson a useful complement to Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell. The spot-up shooting will be a swing skill; if she can hit 3-point jumpers at a 35-percent clip, Johnson can play off the ball. Otherwise, she might be more limited as a full-time backup point guard who lets Clark work off of screens instead of creating everything in the pick-and-roll. Still, Johnson should be able to fill in the Aari McDonald role from the 2025 Fever, ideally with fewer injury concerns than McDonald.”
Michael Voepel, ESPN: Raven Johnson, South Carolina
“It appears Johnson helped her draft stock plenty as a senior because of the traits she showed: leadership, maturity and resilience. We saw those qualities throughout her career at South Carolina, but they were key in helping the Gamecocks reach the national championship game again and end UConn’s unbeaten season. Johnson was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year. She is very strong and can effectively guard a lot of different types of players.”
Clare Brennan, Sports Illustrated: Ta’Niya Latson, South Carolina
“Latson was the nation’s leading scorer (25.2 points per game) during the 2024–25 season before transferring to South Carolina from FSU. With a new role, her numbers took a dip, but she had an impressive outing during the NCAA tournament, logging 16 points and 11 rebounds in South Carolina’s Final Four defeat of UConn. What sets Latson apart is her ability to get downhill, resembling a runaway train as she attacks the basket.”
Eric Nemchock, Swish Nation (SB Nation): Ta’Niya Latson, South Carolina
“Indiana spent much of last season trying to make up for injuries to its backcourt, and while that was a somewhat extreme example of how a lack of depth can affect a team, the Fever should probably be looking to shore up their guard rotation anyway. They could certainly do much worse than Latson, who is among the most talented scorers in the country. A three-time All-ACC First-Teamer and former Division I scoring champ, Latson transferred to South Carolina from Florida State to compete for a championship and become a better all-around player, and under Dawn Staley’s tutelage she increased her field goal percentage (48.6 percent) while significantly cutting down on her turnovers. Latson’s strength will always be her scoring, though; she can get into the paint and draw fouls at will, and while she’s probably not going to be as prolific of a scorer in the WNBA as she was at Florida State, her shot creation will be invaluable.”
2026 WNBA Draft invitees. Which players will attend the WNBA draft?
Here are the 15 prospects confirmed to be attending the WNBA draft:
When is the 2026 WNBA Draft?
The picks begin at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, April 13, in New York.
Where can I watch the 2026 WNBA Draft?
ESPN.
When do the Indiana Fever pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft?
The Fever own the 10th (first round), 25th (second) and 40th (third) picks.
When does the Indiana Fever schedule start in 2026?
The Indiana Fever open the 2026 season at 1 p.m. ET Saturday, May 9, against the Dallas Wings.
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Chloe Peterson is the Indiana Fever beat reporter for IndyStar. Reach her at capeterson@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’s YouTube channel for Fever Insiders Live.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Who will the Indiana Fever pick in 2026 WNBA Draft? Mock drafts, schedule, where to watch
Reporting by Aaron Ferguson and Scott Horner, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
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