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)
WNBA Player Movement & Transactions | WNBA
Get the latest on player movement across the WNBA. Trades, signings, waivers and more.
www.wnba.com
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
If you look at the Dream pre-season roster, Indya has a real chance to make it. Most of their rosters are bigs and wings. #fingerscrossed
For a new roster spots, she's competing (right now) against Phelia and an Australian guard, Borlase. Maybe Thieery, but she's more of a forward.
For a new roster spots, she's competing (right now) against Phelia and an Australian guard, Borlase. Maybe Thieery, but she's more of a forward.
The Dream will have to carry 12 and only 13 played in this game. But they will definitely hold a spot for star Brionna Jones is is currently out injured and probably veteran Naz Hillmon who is listed day-to-day and DNP.
only 13 played in this exhibition game, plus the two injured above . Does that bode well for Nivar? assuming those are the 15 they are choosing from, three who played in the first exhibition game will be cut according to eh 12 player roster minimum, and two may be offered a developmental contract as part-timers.
Of the 13 who played, the non-starters with under 20 minutes played in the first exhibition:
- Thierry is 6-1 2nd year player, barely played last year; last on the bench.
- Borlase is a 5-11 rookie free agent and signed a rookie scale contract
- Nivar is a 5-10 rookie SG , drafted 2nd round and signed a rookie scale contract
- Phelia is a 6-0 rookie free agent, signed to a training camp contract (not on full salary)
- Fontelroy is a 6-0 rookie free agent, signed a rookie scale contract
- Washington is a 6-2 rookie, signed a rookie scale contract
Their roster still lists 18 players, so in reality probably five will be cut. (with two added back part-time).
Two of the other players who DNP are 5-10 G Cazorla and 5-11 G Winterburn, and both are also rookie free agents on the lesser training camp contracts. They are both on the injury report as "day-to-day". They seem to both be precarious right now, considering no playing time opportunity and camp only contracts.
The last player is Stephanie Jones, also listed as day-to-day,., She is a 6-2 F 2nd year player who was a deep reserve last year, But she sems pretty likely to make the team again on an expanded roster. So perhaps that pushes Nivar down a spot in terms of final roster, even though they do not play the same position?
Not listed at all is their 3rd round pick, 5-8 SG Keija Ran from China. She DNP in game one, and is not on the Dream roster currently. She is only 19, so it is possible that the Dream wanted to secure her rights, but may stash her into a developmental role overseas? Notably, they have not signed Ran to a contract, which is a pretty good indication that she is not currently in training camp.
It is all about the fit and what the team needs in the W.
I just went to the WNBA website and I saw a recap of the Dream vs Sky preseason game. IN played 18 minutes. She looked and played good IMO. Here is a recap for those who want to watch it. Go Heels!
www.wnba.com
Atlanta Dream vs Chicago Sky Apr 29, 2026 Game Summary
Atlanta Dream vs Chicago Sky Apr 29, 2026 game result including recap, highlights and game information