Decision day for Amber Cox and the Indiana Fever creeps closer toward a decision on whether or not they’ll match the offer sheet that Justine Pissott signed with the Las Vegas Aces on July 7.
The Fever have another few hours to make a decision. If they choose not to match the offer sheet, the Aces will poach the rookie from Indiana. If they do match, the Fever would likely need to waive a player to create room on the active roster. Tuesday is also the deadline to waive a player before certain contracts become fully guaranteed.
Traditionally, offer sheets have been a severely underutilized tool in the arsenal of general managers. But in the WNBA, they were just implemented under the league’s new collective bargaining agreement this year, allowing opposing teams to extend offer sheets to players on developmental contracts.
Under this rule, opposing teams can sign a developmental player away from her current team during the season. The player’s original team then has exactly 24 hours to either match the offer sheet or lose the player. If the original team matches, the player stays. If it declines, the new team acquires the player but must waive an active-roster player to clear a spot.
Pissott, who was drafted by the Fever with the No. 22 overall pick, has yet to play a single game for Indiana. If the Fever decide to keep Pissott by matching the offer sheet, they would likely need to cut a player on a non-protected deal, such as backup center Damiris Dantas or Grace VanSlooten, in order to sign Pissott to a standard contract.
Fever fans react to Aces tendering offer sheet to Justine Pissott
Indiana Fever fans had mixed reactions to the news. Some believe Pissott needs a fresh start away from the Fever, arguing that she has been buried on the depth chart because of the team’s deep guard rotation. Others feel Indiana should retain her by waiving another player and matching the offer sheet.
Here’s a look at some of the reactions:
Whether the Fever elect to match the offer sheet or let Pissott go, one thing is guaranteed: the rookie is expected to be on a standard WNBA contract very soon.
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