The Indiana Fever team that ended the season this week looked a lot different from the one that started it.

Why it matters: It might look a lot different next year, too.

State of play: Because the current collective bargaining agreement expires at the end of the 2025 season, many players took one-year contracts and extensions in order to capitalize on a new (and, they hope, more lucrative) CBA.

• That means there are going to be more free agents than usual in 2026.
• Plus: An expansion draft for new Portland and Toronto teams will complicate the roster-building even further.

How it works: WNBA teams can have a minimum of 11 and a maximum of 12 players on their rosters.

The intrigue: The Fever used 18 players throughout the season and entered the WNBA semifinals down six players to injury — including star Caitlin Clark.

Zoom in: Clark is one of just three Fever players under contract for next season. Aaliyah Boston and Makayla Timpson are the others — all three on their rookie contracts.

What they're saying: The Fever hope to keep many of the current players, chief operating officer and general manager Amber Cox said during exit interviews Thursday, but there's one in particular she's focused on.

• "The priority will be Kelsey Mitchell and making sure she remains in a Fever jersey," Cox said.

The other side: Mitchell called Indy her "second family" and said she has "so much love and so much aspiration for this place."

• Yes, but: Mitchell stopped short of saying she wanted to return next season.

Between the lines: That leaves uncertainty for other key players, including starter Natasha Howard and difference-maker Odyssey Sims, who was first brought in on a hardship waiver in August and then signed for the rest of the season, and injured players including Aari McDonald and Sophie Cunningham.

The bottom line: Fever fans got a crash course this season in embracing new faces, and they'll likely be doing more of it next year.

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Indianapolis Swifties have plenty of options for celebrating today's debut of the pop singer's highly anticipated 12th studio album, "The Life of a Showgirl."

Zoom in: The in-theater parties run today through Sunday at AMC locations and some independent local cinemas, including Living Room Theaters, Flix Brewhouse, Landmark Theatres and Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.

• It will feature the world premiere of the music video for "The Fate of Ophelia," behind-the-scenes footage and personal reflections from Taylor Swift herself.
• Ticket prices for the 89-minute show vary, but we saw prices ranging from $12-17.
• 🎤 Singing and dancing are encouraged, per a release from AMC.

Zoom out: If the movie theater isn't your vibe, check out release parties at other venues.

• A release party with food, drinks and live music at Bojak's Bar & Grille in Franklin starts at 8pm tonight.
• Union Jack in Broad Ripple is celebrating at 7pm tonight with bingo, a costume contest and themed menus.

⛪️ Holy Cross Church is safe, for now. The historic church was slated for demolition, but the city's preservation commission voted to protect it.

• St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, which owns the building that hasn't housed a congregation in a decade, plans to appeal the decision in court. (WISH-TV)

🤑 The city is paying a consultant $40,000 per month to lead the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance, a state-created organization examining the city's network of school buildings, transportation services and governance. (Chalkbeat Indiana)

🌳 Noblesville is making its downtown more pedestrian-friendly. Construction to widen sidewalks and add green space on the north side of the courthouse square will start next year. (IBJ)

🏀 Butler basketball has agreed to a two-season series with UNC, beefing up the Bulldogs' nonconference schedule, starting next year. (IndyStar)

Mecum Auctions is bringing 1,000 sweet rides to the Indiana State Fairgrounds this weekend.

Why it matters: The sixth Indy Fall Special auction will give local auto enthusiasts another chance to drool over their dream cars if they missed out on Dana Mecum's $100 million 38th Original Spring Classic in May.

Driving the news: The auction includes the Peotone Collection, a showcase of classic American luxury cars from the '70s and '80s with a pair of classic Jags thrown in for good measure.

• The Fall Classic also includes No. 7 of the 50 2017 Chevrolet Corvette Yenko/SC Convertibles ever produced. This one has only 388 miles on the odometer and 800 horsepower.

If you go: Mecum starts Thursday and runs through Saturday at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

• Gates open daily at 8am, and close one hour after the final vehicle of the day crosses the auction block.
• Tickets start at $30.

How to watch: Coverage will be broadcast and streamed live from 11am-5pm on ESPN+.

Epicurean Indy and more weekend picks

If you need another reason to love living in Indy, how about this: we're home to three of the nation's best taco spots.

Crunching the news: Yelp just released its 2025 list of America's top 100 taco spots.

• Tlaolli was our top-ranked restaurant, coming in at No. 41.
• The east side shop has a loyal following, unsurprising given its menu of both traditional favorites (hello, pork carnitas tacos) and unique options, like tacos stuffed with slow-cooked hibiscus flowers.
• Unfortunately, Tlaolli is temporarily closed as it recovers from vandalism to its building.

Between the shells: We've told you about No. 46, Chris' Ice Cream, before. It's not the first time this hidden gem in Nora has been recognized for its delicious, unfussy tacos.

• And one of my personal favorites, Julieta Taco Shop at the Stutz, came in at No. 89.