Indya Nivar Drafted
- Thread starter Carolina151
- Start date
Yeah, I agree. I am so glad that she and Key both got drafted. Key is still a Tarheel in my mind.
Fantastic!! I think she should have gone ahead of Prosper and Ashlon Jackson. She's got a great shot to make the team. Woohoo!
In 2024 13 of the 36 drafted players made opening game rosters.
but in 2025 that increased to 20, largely because the W added an additional team.
and 2026 looks even more promising:
Nivar probably has about a 50/50 shot to make a roster outright with all the free agency shuffling. And a better shot that that to be designated a developmental player.
I could also mean Deja Kelly gets a better shot this year after almost making a team last season as last woman cut.
but in 2025 that increased to 20, largely because the W added an additional team.
and 2026 looks even more promising:
- All teams add one more player, growing from 11 to 12
- All teams can carry two developmental players: kind of a practice team who can be activated for up to 12 games per year.
- the W is adding two more teams, so 24 additional roster spots in the league
Nivar probably has about a 50/50 shot to make a roster outright with all the free agency shuffling. And a better shot that that to be designated a developmental player.
I could also mean Deja Kelly gets a better shot this year after almost making a team last season as last woman cut.
the Atlanta Dream are currently carrying 13 women on their roster plus the 3 rookies they just drafted. So that is 16 players as of right now and they will need to get down to,a 12 woman roster with 2 developmental players.
some of those 13 are also rookies who were in previous drafts but never made a team. Looking at her position, Nivar will likely be competing with:
some of those 13 are also rookies who were in previous drafts but never made a team. Looking at her position, Nivar will likely be competing with:
- maite Cazorla 28 year old 5-10 2nd year reserve who averaged 15 mpg, 3.0 ppg, 1.6 apg last season. Was drafted in 2019 out of Oregon, but last year was her first to make a roster. Has been playing in her native Spain before last season. Was just signed to a training camp contract.
- Taylor Thierry 23 year old 6-1 2nd year reserve who only saw action in 17 games, scoring a total of 17 career points. 2025 3rd round pick Out of Ohio State
- Isabelle Borlaise 21 year old 5-11 rookie - 2024 1st round pick from Australia who then elected to stay in Australia last season. she was an Aussie league all-star in 2024, then the youngest ever Aussie League MVP in 2025. Just signed a rookie scale contract (bigger, much more secure than a training camp contract) yesterday with the dream under the new CBA agreement.
- Paige Robinson 25 year old 5-11 rookie- 2023 3rd rounder by Dallas, but did not make the roster. just signed by Atlanta yesterday to a training camp contract. Played For Illinois State then Euro ball in Spain and for Team Uganda in Afrobasket
- Holly Winterburn 25 year old 5-11 rookie out of Oregon from the UK who went un drafted in 2020, she played pro ball in Greece and UK, winning a Eurobasket title with the London Lions. The Dream signed her last season to a training camp contract but she missed the season with injury. Just signed another training camp contract.
- Indya Nivar 22 year old 2026 2nd round pick from UNC
- Keija Ran 19 year old 2026 5-9 3rd round pick from China. U-19mChina team, played in the top Chinese league.
- any other free agents they sign post draft.
Excellent for Indya. She put in the work.
Unrelated, seeing Teoni Key get drafted is something I never would have imagined during her two years at UNC. She went from someone you couldn’t have on the court to a solid big for Kentucky.
Unrelated, seeing Teoni Key get drafted is something I never would have imagined during her two years at UNC. She went from someone you couldn’t have on the court to a solid big for Kentucky.
I Nivar officially signed her rookie scale contract today:
Under the new CBA, This is a Standardized 3-year contract with a team option for a 4th year.
It is not guaranteed, but as a draft pick she will be highly prioritized and it is expected most 2nd round picks will make teams this year.
For the 2026 season, all players drafted in the 2nd and 3rd rounds are slotted into the same base salary tier:
Year 1 Salary: $270,000
Year 2 Salary: $288,600
Total Initial 3-Year Contract Value: Approximately $860,000–$900,000 (depending on the Year 3 incremental raise).
That is the league minimum, though it is a longer contract 3-4 years for drafted players versus 1-2 years for infrared free agents).
For comparison, the new 2026 league minimum is higher than
The 2025 maximum veteran salary permitted under the previous CBA ($249,244)
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Under the new CBA, This is a Standardized 3-year contract with a team option for a 4th year.
It is not guaranteed, but as a draft pick she will be highly prioritized and it is expected most 2nd round picks will make teams this year.
For the 2026 season, all players drafted in the 2nd and 3rd rounds are slotted into the same base salary tier:
Year 1 Salary: $270,000
Year 2 Salary: $288,600
Total Initial 3-Year Contract Value: Approximately $860,000–$900,000 (depending on the Year 3 incremental raise).
That is the league minimum, though it is a longer contract 3-4 years for drafted players versus 1-2 years for infrared free agents).
For comparison, the new 2026 league minimum is higher than
The 2025 maximum veteran salary permitted under the previous CBA ($249,244)
Pulling hard for Indy. There is no one in college that I know of that plays harder than her.
Yee. Pulling for her as well. I think she has some unique abilities.
Tarboy, there is another player who plays just as hard as IN. I hate to be the one to point this out to your but HH plays just as hard on both ends too. This is why she lead the nation in steals, etc. She willed ND to the sweet 16.
Unreal effort by such a small women with a huge heart and talent. Still Indy probably plays harder than anyone in this years draft