February 11, 2025
Indiana Fever notebook: Youngsters waived, Natasha Howard introduced and facility updates
By Tony East
A lot has changed in the Circle City
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Indiana Fever have been busy recently. Like every team, they’ve been dealing with the endless news that is free agency. Their roster is different — much different. But lost in the shuffle were some smaller moves that made it all possible, and the Fever changes don’t end there.
Continue reading with a subscription to The Next
Get unlimited access to women’s basketball coverage and help support our hardworking staff of writers, editors, and photographers by subscribing today.
Already a member?
Login
The team will soon be adding a new practice facility to their setup, one that will be among the best in the WNBA. The construction process has already started. That and much more will be discussed in this Indiana Fever notebook.
Order ‘Rare Gems’ and save 30%
Howard Megdal, founder and editor of The Next and The IX, released his latest book on May 7, 2024. This deeply reported story follows four connected generations of women’s basketball pioneers, from Elvera “Peps” Neuman to Cheryl Reeve and from Lindsay Whalen to Sylvia Fowles and Paige Bueckers.
If you enjoy his coverage of women’s basketball every Wednesday at The IX, you will love “Rare Gems: How Four Generations of Women Paved the Way for the WNBA.” Click the link below to order and enter MEGDAL30 at checkout.
Grace Berger has been waived by the Fever
On Feb. 2, the Indiana Fever opted to move on from young guard Grace Berger. The 25-year old spent her first two seasons with the franchise after being the seventh overall pick in the 2023 draft.
Berger attended Indiana University and grew up in the Midwest. Her upbringing guided her to pro basketball, and she made the AP All-Rookie Team after her first season. The Louisville native had a promising start to her career.
But when Caitlin Clark came to the Fever, Berger’s role shrank. She played fewer games, and fewer minutes, in her second season. While her production wasn’t much different from Year 1 to Year 2, she didn’t get as many chances.
With Sydney Colson, Jaelyn Brown and Sophie Cunningham all added to the mix in the offseason, Berger’s role appeared set to remain small — if not drop even more. With her contract unprotected, it made sense for the Fever to move on.
“I want to be able to get to the point where I can be counted on to guard the other team’s best guard. So I think that’s a goal for me down the line, just continue to get better at that,” Berger told The Next of her goals for improvement in Year 2.
She didn’t have many chances to show it.
“I think 3-point shooting is something I always just want to get more consistent at,” she added. “Especially now, I think it’s off the move, off the dribble. Just expanding the floor so that it opens up room.”
The Minnesota Lynx have already claimed Berger, who wasn’t Indiana’s only waiver in free agency.
Victaria Saxton has also been waived
One day after Berger was released, the Indiana Fever also moved on from Victaria Saxton.
Like Berger, Saxton was a 2023 draftee. They both had similar second seasons in the Circle City, playing less often as the team got better. For Saxton, a South Carolina product, that meant just nine appearances and 23 total minutes during the 2024 season.
The Georgia native was a third-round draft pick, and it was an impressive story that she made the Fever’s roster as a rookie. Earning a multi-year stint with Indiana was even more remarkable.
“You worked for this. Nothing is given,” Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley told Saxton when she made the final roster in 2023.
But with Natasha Howard added to the Fever’s frontcourt rotation, Saxton’s already small role looked like it was about to drop even more. With additional spending coming for the Fever early in free agency, they opted to move on from the rarely-used Saxton and open up cap space.
Add Locked On Women’s Basketball to your daily routine
Here at The Next, in addition to the 24/7/365 written content our staff provides, we also host the daily Locked On Women’s Basketball podcast. Join us Monday through Saturday each week as we discuss all things WNBA, collegiate basketball, basketball history and much more. Listen wherever you find podcasts or watch on YouTube.
Indiana has a new practice facility coming
Last month, the Indiana Fever announced they are building a new, $78 million practice facility right by Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
It’s going to be 108,000 square feet and is expected to be ready for the 2027 WNBA season. A sky bridge will connect the building to a parking garage and the arena. According to a release about the facility, there will be amenities designed to address the specific needs of female athletes competing at the highest level, including performance and conditioning, recovery and rehabilitation, mental health and wellness and lifestyle support.
Construction is set to begin in August of this year. Demolition of the previous building in the same location has already started.
“I feel very fortunate and lucky to come here,” Caitlin Clark said of the Indiana Fever franchise this week. “The next few years are going to be amazing for this franchise. … They’re investing to help us be really good.”
Some of the expected amenities include two regulation-sized courts, premier strength and conditioning equipment, yoga and pilates areas, hydration stations and a full-service kitchen. On top of that, there will be a spa-like retreat with massage, infrared light therapy, sauna, steam, heat studios, float tank and multiple hydrotherapy pools. The Fever, according to a release, will also have a private outdoor courtyard and mental performance spaces as well as a hair and nail salon, childcare space and podcast and content production studio.
A team store will be constructed inside for fans.
“This elite training center is a reflection of our organization’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that our players have the highest level of resources to be successful,” president of basketball operations Kelly Krauskopf said in a statement.
Natasha Howard was introduced as a member of the Fever
Nastasha Howard was introduced to media members as a free agent signing for the Indiana Fever last week, and what stood out more than anything, she said, was the family feel. Howard, a three-time All-Star, has played for the Fever before. She was drafted to the franchise in 2014, and Krauskopf was the general manager who selected her fifth overall.
As Howard shared some of her thoughts about joining Indiana, Krauskopf sat to her right. On Howard’s left was Stephanie White, who was the head coach of the Fever in 2015. Howard was on the roster at the time — the two already know each other well.
On Krauskopf’s right was Amber Cox, Indiana’s general manager. Before this season, Cox spent two years with the Dallas Wings, Howard’s former team. They overlapped for two seasons there. Everyone on the podium was well connected, and it was noticeable in the smiles.
“The person that’s sitting next to me is a high-integrity, high-class, great teammate. Players in this league love her,” Krauskopf said of Howard.
The 11-year pro went to watch a professional volleyball game with Fever franchise legend Tamika Catchings less than a week after the press conference. The many connections Howard has to Indianapolis helped secure her signature, and it was obvious how much relationships played a role in her free agency decision at that press conference.
Want even more women’s sports in your inbox?
Subscribe now to our sister publication The IX and receive our independent women’s sports newsletter six days a week. Learn more about your favorite athletes and teams around the world competing in soccer, tennis, basketball, golf, hockey and gymnastics from our incredible team of writers.
Readers of The Next now save 50% on their subscription to The IX.
Written by Tony East
Indiana Fever reporter based in Indianapolis. Enjoy a good statistical-based argument.
