Fever to Pick Tessa Johnson 10th in 2027 Draft
A Bleacher Report mock draft projects Indiana will select the South Carolina guard with the 10th overall pick in April 2027.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Basketball
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Bleacher Report's first college basketball mock draft projects the Indiana Fever will select South Carolina guard Tessa Johnson 10th overall in the 2027 WNBA draft, scheduled for April 2027. The projection comes after the WNBA season ended and ahead of the draft lottery on November 15.
Why it matters
The projection points to a need for cheap shooting if Kelsey Mitchell leaves in free agency, which would leave a void at guard for the Fever. Caitlin Clark's pending multimillion-dollar extension also shapes how the team builds its roster around her.
Johnson is a career 44 percent three-point shooter, and the Fever are projected to pick 10th overall in the 2027 draft. The projection depends on where the team finishes and whether Kelsey Mitchell remains with the franchise.
The players
Tessa Johnson
Tessa Johnson is a South Carolina guard and career 44 percent three-point shooter projected to be drafted by the Indiana Fever.
Indiana Fever
The Indiana Fever are a Women's National Basketball Association franchise based in Indianapolis.
Kelsey Mitchell
Kelsey Mitchell is a Fever guard who faces free agency, a development that could open a guard spot for the team.
The details
Jack Bonin produced the mock draft, the first of the college basketball season, placing Johnson with the Fever at 10th overall. The projection assumes Mitchell leaves in free agency, opening a need for guard shooting that Johnson could fill.
Timeline
November 15, 2026: WNBA draft lottery to determine the top overall pick.
April 2027: 2027 WNBA draft, where the Fever are projected to select Johnson.
Season Trajectory
Early mock drafts like Bleacher Report's first college basketball projection set the initial draft board months before the lottery. Johnson's projected landing spot with the Fever depends on the team's finish and roster decisions tied to Kelsey Mitchell's free agency.
If the Fever pick Johnson 10th overall, her career 44 percent three-point shooting would give fantasy and team-building analysts a concrete shooting profile to track. Fans following the draft board can watch the November 15 lottery to see whether the projection holds.
The takeaway
Early mock drafts are projections rather than outcomes, and the Fever's actual pick will depend on the lottery and their 2027 finish. Readers should treat the 10th-overall projection as one scenario among several.
What happens next
The WNBA draft lottery will be held on November 15, 2026, and will determine the Fever's pick position in the April 2027 draft.
Further reading
Explore more Basketball coverage for context on the WNBA draft cycle.
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