Indiana Fever’s 2025 WNBA Trade Deadline Strategy: Top Potential Acquisitions and Their Impact
As the 2025 WNBA trade deadline looms, every team is assessing its strengths, weaknesses, and realistic ambitions for the remainder of the season. For the Indiana Fever, the upcoming deadline holds significant importance—not just because of playoff positioning, but also due to the long-term vision of building a title-contending roster. Following a tumultuous start to the season marred by injuries and coaching transitions, Indiana finds itself in a competitive but uncertain spot in the league standings.
Currently ranked fifth with a 16-12 record, the Fever have seen flashes of brilliance as well as signs of vulnerability. They’re not in crisis, but the margin for error is narrow. Their ambitions are bigger than simply reaching the postseason again. They’re chasing consistency, depth, and the kind of two-way dominance that wins championships.
Let’s examine three top players the Fever might target as the August 7 trade deadline approaches, why these names are surfacing in rumors, and how they could reshape Indiana’s trajectory in 2025 and beyond.
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Rebuilding With Purpose: Indiana Fever’s 2025 Trade Deadline Goals
The Indiana Fever are navigating a delicate balance. On one hand, they’re developing a young core centered around Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark—two generational talents with distinct skill sets. On the other, they’re trying to compete in real-time in one of the most competitive WNBA landscapes in recent memory.
In 2024, the team ended an eight-year playoff drought, a feat made possible primarily due to the impact of Clark, the No. 1 overall pick who brought both elite shooting and record-breaking popularity. Her rookie season saw her finish with the third-highest three-point shooting percentage in the league. Yet, as the 2025 campaign unfolded, things got complicated.
Clark has missed stretches of games due to minor injuries. Meanwhile, the team has also adjusted to new coaching leadership. These factors have contributed to a rollercoaster season. Despite this, the Fever remain a viable threat in the playoffs, and management understands that a few strategic roster moves could dramatically increase their odds of making a deep postseason run.
With that in mind, three names are being floated as realistic and potentially transformative targets: Myisha Hines-Allen, Brittney Griner, and Tiffany Hayes.
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1. Myisha Hines-Allen – A Stretch Forward With Championship DNA
Current Team: Dallas Wings
Position: Forward
Height: 6’1″
Key Stats (2025):
Points per game: 8.5
Rebounds per game: 4.7
Three-point percentage: 29.6%
Career three-point percentage: ~35%
Championship experience: Yes
Why She’s on Indiana’s Radar
The Indiana Fever need more than just flashy scoring; they need durable contributors who understand winning culture and can support the interior game without clogging the floor. Myisha Hines-Allen, currently playing for the Dallas Wings, fits that mold perfectly.
Though her current season three-point shooting has dipped slightly below her career average, Hines-Allen remains a legitimate floor spacer. Her ability to pull defenders out to the perimeter helps open driving lanes for playmakers like Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell. Furthermore, her veteran instincts can take pressure off Aliyah Boston, who has shouldered much of the frontcourt burden.
Where She Fits in Indiana’s Rotation
Assuming the Fever land Hines-Allen, she likely slides into a rotational role behind Boston and Natasha Howard. That doesn’t sound glamorous, but it’s precisely what Indiana needs. Hines-Allen can absorb tough defensive assignments, defend the wing or post, and contribute in small-ball lineups. Her championship experience could also be invaluable in the locker room.
Importantly, her versatility would allow Coach Stephanie White to be more flexible with rotations, possibly reducing wear and tear on her starting frontcourt as the team eyes a long playoff journey.
Trade Mechanics and Possibility
Given the Wings’ current direction—retooling around younger talent—it’s plausible they’d be open to moving a veteran like Hines-Allen for the right package. Indiana might offer draft capital, a younger rotational player, or a combination of both to get the deal done. If they can pull it off without giving up any key starters, it could be one of the most balanced acquisitions at the deadline.
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2. Brittney Griner – Veteran Post Presence With Elite Upside
Current Team: Atlanta Dream
Position: Center
Height: 6’9″
Key Stats (2025):
Points per game: 10.6
Rebounds per game: 5.6
Assists per game: 0.8
Blocks per game: 1.1
Age: 35
Griner’s Reputation and Resilience
Few names in women’s basketball carry the legacy and presence of Brittney Griner. A 12-year WNBA veteran, Griner has been one of the league’s most dominant forces for over a decade. From her shot-blocking dominance to her post scoring ability, she redefined what it means to be a modern center.
Despite missing substantial time in recent years due to international legal issues and injuries, Griner has remained effective when healthy. In 2025, her averages might not match her career highs, but she still demands attention in the paint and offers rare size and interior defense.
Why the Fever Need Her
Griner’s value to the Fever would go beyond the stat sheet. While Aliyah Boston continues to blossom into a franchise cornerstone, she lacks a true mentor in the frontcourt. Griner, with her seasoned approach, could teach Boston the finer points of post positioning, rim protection, and endurance.
Tactically, Griner would provide Indiana with a shot-blocking boost and rebounding support—two areas where the Fever have had inconsistent results this season. When paired with Boston, they could form one of the most physically imposing frontcourts in the WNBA.
Even if Griner plays fewer minutes than in her prime, her impact in clutch moments—especially in playoff basketball—is potentially game-changing.
Challenges to Acquisition
The primary complication is Griner’s status with the Atlanta Dream. Though Atlanta is teetering on playoff relevance, they may prefer to lean into a youth movement. If that’s the case, the Fever could emerge as suitors. However, Griner’s contract and potential no-trade preferences would need to be managed delicately.
Furthermore, Indiana would need to ensure her role complements Boston rather than overlaps. Depth management and strategic rotations would be crucial to making this partnership work.
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3. Tiffany Hayes – Perimeter Sparkplug With Playoff Experience
Current Team: Golden State Valkyries
Position: Guard/Forward
Height: 5’10”
Key Stats (2025):
Points per game: 12.0
Rebounds per game: 3.5
Assists per game: 2.9
Field goal percentage: ~42%
Playoff experience: Extensive
A Scoring Wing With Something to Prove
Tiffany Hayes has built her WNBA career around scoring, defensive hustle, and timely playmaking. The Golden State Valkyries wing is having a solid season, and her numbers reflect the kind of two-way production the Fever desperately need on the perimeter.
Since the departure of DeWanna Bonner, Indiana has lacked a true veteran wing who can both create their own shot and defend against the WNBA’s elite scorers. Hayes, who thrives on mid-range jumpers, transition buckets, and backdoor cuts, could be that missing piece.
System Fit and Upside
Coach Stephanie White’s offense often involves high-paced ball movement, staggered screens, and a perimeter-based approach—perfect conditions for Hayes to flourish. As a slasher and spot-up shooter, she would thrive alongside playmakers like Clark and Mitchell, receiving clean looks while also creating her own opportunities when needed.
Defensively, Hayes’ quickness and awareness make her a strong option to guard elite opponents on the wing. With her experience, she can help plug some of the defensive gaps that have plagued Indiana—especially in late-game scenarios.
A Symbolic and Tactical Acquisition
Signing Hayes would also serve as a symbolic continuation of the team’s vision that began with Bonner’s arrival. While Bonner may no longer be part of the long-term future, Hayes could pick up where she left off—bringing leadership, shot-making, and swagger to the locker room.
Her playoff experience is another intangible that adds value. Hayes has been through postseason battles and understands how to operate under pressure. She wouldn’t shrink from the spotlight that increasingly shines on Clark and the Fever franchise.
Deal Feasibility
Golden State is still finding its identity as a relatively new franchise. If their front office sees value in retooling with draft picks or younger players, they may be willing to move Hayes. Her contract size and age (mid-30s) make her a more accessible target than some of the league’s younger stars.
Strategic Considerations: How These Players Complement the Fever’s Core
Each of these trade targets brings something different to the table:
Myisha Hines-Allen helps stretch the floor and relieve frontcourt pressure.
Brittney Griner adds size, rebounding, and elite shot-blocking presence.
Tiffany Hayes gives the team a dynamic wing scorer with playoff seasoning.
If Indiana can acquire even one of these players without giving up core talent like Clark, Boston, or Mitchell, they significantly raise their playoff ceiling.
The key for General Manager Lin Dunn will be to navigate the market wisely—balancing short-term success with long-term sustainability. Cap flexibility, player roles, and team chemistry must all be carefully managed.
The Bigger Picture: Indiana Fever’s Long-Term Outlook
This trade deadline isn’t just about the 2025 playoffs. It’s about setting the tone for a new era of Fever basketball. The combination of youth and veteran talent, if constructed thoughtfully, could position Indiana as a perennial contender in the years ahead.
Caitlin Clark is only in her second season, and Aliyah Boston continues to establish herself as one of the most promising bigs in the game. Supporting them with experienced, versatile contributors is not just a smart move—it’s a necessary one.
By targeting high-IQ, two-way veterans like Hines-Allen, Griner, and Hayes, the Fever signal that they are done rebuilding. They’re here to win, and they’re willing to make the moves to prove it.
Final Thoughts
With the trade deadline just around the corner, all eyes will be on the Indiana Fever front office. They have cap space, young talent, and momentum. The opportunity is there to make meaningful improvements to a team that’s already trending upward.
Whether they go after a stretch forward like Hines-Allen, a dominant center like Griner, or a veteran scorer like Hayes, the moves they make—or don’t make—will speak volumes about their ambitions. One thing is certain: the 2025 WNBA trade deadline could be a defining moment in the Fever’s push for championship contention.
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