Fever predicted to draft crafty 24-year-old guard to help Caitlin Clark originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The prospect of a 2026 WNBA season isn’t the strongest it could be right now, as the league and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association remain in a stalemate over a new collective bargaining agreement.
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Even still, the 2026 WNBA Draft is expected to go ahead as planned in two months’ time, and the Indiana Fever will be looking to augment a core that includes Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark.
MORE: We now know when Caitlin Clark will make her USA Basketball debut
Could the Fever look to add another guard to the mix on April 13? The Athletic’s Sabreena Merchant thinks that is a strong possibility.
In The Athletic’s latest mock draft, Merchant has projected the Fever to select UCLA guard Charlisse Leger-Walker, who is in her sixth year of NCAA eligibility and helping to power the second-ranked Bruins following her transfer from Washington State.
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Leger-Walker is averaging 8.8 points and 5.6 assists per game will turn 25 years old before the end of what would be her rookie season, but Merchant thinks her age could be a plus for a Fever team that has entered a contention window.
“Indiana is trying to win now, and Leger-Walker has as much experience as possible for a rookie,” Merchant writes. “In addition to her six years of college basketball, she has been playing for the New Zealand national team since age 16.”
Leger-Walker’s experience running a high-level offense, as well as her driving ability and improved defense, could make her a good complement to Clark and allow coach Stephanie White to draw up more off-ball actions for the two-time All-Star.
The fit would be interesting, and it’s something to keep an eye on eight weeks before draft night.
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