Yvonne Ejim, a promising rookie forward from Gonzaga University, was drafted 33rd overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2025 WNBA draft. However, the Fever waived Ejim on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, as they worked to finalize their roster before the start of the regular season on May 17.
Contract Details
Ejim signed a three-year contract with the Indiana Fever worth $204,253. The contract included an average annual salary of $68,084. For the 2025 season, Ejim was set to earn a base salary of $66,079. The Indiana Fever signed all three of their 2025 draftees, including Makayla Timpson and Bree Hall, to rookie-scale contracts.
Roster and Salary Cap Constraints
The Indiana Fever, like all WNBA teams, face roster and salary cap restrictions. WNBA teams are limited to a maximum of 12 players on their roster during the regular season. Due to salary cap constraints, the Fever are expected to carry just 11 players early in the season. The WNBA salary cap is just over $1.5 million.
Releasing Ejim brought the Fever to the 12-player maximum, but they still needed to make one more cut to comply with the salary cap. This decision highlights the difficult choices teams must make to balance talent and financial considerations. According to Fever coach Stephanie White, the organization values giving players opportunities to potentially get on other teams.
Ejim's Career at Gonzaga
Before entering the WNBA, Yvonne Ejim had an outstanding college career at Gonzaga University. She set program records for the most points scored in a single season and most games played in a college career. Ejim is the all-time leading scorer in Gonzaga women's basketball history, with 2,385 points and 1,140 rebounds. She is the first player in West Coast Conference (WCC) history to record 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. The Canadian player is a two-time WCC Player of the Year, two-time Defensive Player of the Year, and former Sixth Woman of the Year. She was also named a DI-AAA Scholar-Athlete.
WNBA Preseason Performance
Ejim appeared in two preseason games for the Fever. In the first game against the Washington Mystics, she recorded one assist. In the second game against the Brazilian National Team, she scored six points and grabbed one rebound.
Future Prospects
Despite being waived by the Fever, Yvonne Ejim's WNBA journey may not be over. Her impressive college resume and potential as a versatile forward could attract interest from other teams. As a member of Canada's senior women's national team core, she has a bright future in basketball.
