2021 WNBA Free Agency is officially underway. As of January 15^th, teams can begin to negotiate with their own Reserved Players and any Restricted and Unrestricted Free Agents.

As of right now Indiana Fever have the second-youngest roster in the league. Last season in the wubble, the team suffered their fourth-straight season without a trip to the playoffs.

On Friday, Fever head coach Marianne Stanley spoke with media about the team’s the challenges during the 2020 season and their goals entering the 2021 season.

“[Last year] was a challenging year in many ways,” Coach Stanley said. “We’re pleased with the core group of players that we have. We’ve got most of our players under contract, we’ve got a few people here in the free agency period that we need to re-sign and then there are a few players we are targeting on the free agent market.”

“So, it’s going to be a crazy time here for the next few weeks, but we’re excited about it and we’re looking forward to year two being something we’re going to build on year one and be better and challenge in the playoffs, that’s our goal. Our goal is to win a championship…so we’re excited about year two.”

Entering free agency, the Fever have a good deal of flexibility, but also four unrestricted free agents in Candice Dupree, Jantel Lavender, Natalie Achonwa and Erica Wheeler.

Wheeler, who won the 2019 All-Star MVP, missed the 2020 season in the wubble due to lingering health symptoms of COVID-19.  Dupree will be entering her 16th season in the league, while Achonwa has spent her entire six-year career with the Fever.

Lavender was traded from Chicago to Indiana near the end of the 2020 season, but was unable to compete as she recovered from foot surgery.

When asked what her top priority would be entering free agency, Coach Stanley answer was simple.

“I think we need to retain our players and then identify and target the people we think can help us improve and take it to another level,” Stanley replied. “Everybody is vying from the same pool of talent, so it’s a little bit of an arms race going on but it’s most important to us that our players that are in our core group that we retain them, we help them to grow and then we add the pieces that we think we need to add. “

Last year’s WNBA free agency signing period, fans saw players like Skylar Diggins-Smith, DeWanna Bonner and other longtime franchise favorites take their talents elsewhere.

Only time will tell what this year’s free agency signing period will provide.

Click here to view this year’s list of Core Players, Reserved Players, Restricted Free Agents and Unrestricted Free Agents.