Erica Wheeler

Wheeler returned to the Fever in 2023 following one-year stints with the Sparks and Dream, and she bounced back following a lackluster showing in Atlanta. She served exclusively as a starter and appeared in every game, averaging 9.9 points, 5.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 26.8 minutes per game. Her assists tied a career-high mark and ranked eighth among all players in the league, but her role could decrease in 2024 if the Fever are able to select Caitlin Clark with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. Clark would provide an immediate boost to Indiana’s offense as a whole, but she has a ball-dominant style that may bring down some stats for her teammates. Kelsey Mitchell, NaLyssa Smith and Aliyah Boston should be locked into starting roles heading into 2024, which would presumably leave Wheeler and Lexie Hull to compete for the final starting spot, assuming Clark joins the team. Wheeler has showcased enough talent, especially as a passer, to maintain a role within the team’s system, but she’d likely have a more inconsistent impact if she comes off the bench in 2024.

Wheeler played for the Sparks and Dream during her last two seasons but signed with Indiana in February. She's been inconsistent over the last few years as a scorer but maintains a strong case to start alongside Kelsey Mitchell as a solid distributor after Tiffany Mitchell departed for the Lynx this offseason. Despite starting in all 30 of her appearances with Atlanta last year, Wheeler's production declined, as she averaged 8.4 points per game after averaging double-digit points in the previous two seasons. Efficiency remains a concern, as her 35.5 percent field-goal rate ranked ninth-worst in the league. However, she was productive as a passer, finishing 13th with 3.9 assists per game. The 21-year-old has fantasy value for those in roto leagues looking for assists, but her overall potential is limited unless her shooting efficiency improves.

Wheeler has served exclusively as a starter in each of the last two seasons, but she'll join her third team in as many seasons after she was traded from Los Angeles to Atlanta in February. She had one of the best seasons of her career during her lone year with the Sparks, logging career-best marks in points per game (13.6) and rebounds (3.1) while also averaging 4.8 points in 30.2 minutes per game. Wheeler has plenty of experience as a starter, but she'll likely have to compete with Tiffany Hayes and Nia Coffey for a starting role in Atlanta's backcourt to begin the 2022 campaign.