Kyra Lambert’s Stunning Return: How the Former Duke Standout Is Redefining Women’s Basketball

Kyra Lambert Joins Indiana Fever on Seven-Day Hardship Contract The Indiana Fever reinforced their depleted backcourt this morning by signing 28-year-old point guard Kyra Lambert to a seven-day hardship contract, the team announced from Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The move gives head coach Christie Sides an extra floor general after season-ending injuries to veterans Sydney Colson and Aari McDonald left the roster one player short. Who Is Kyra Lambert? • Former five-star recruit out of San Antonio, Texas • Three-time NCAA champion at Duke before transferring to the University of Texas, where she helped the Longhorns reach the 2021 Elite Eight • Has played professionally in Greece for Olympiacos and most recently signed with Elitzur Ramla in Israel before this WNBA call-up What the Signing Means for the Fever Indiana’s guard rotation has relied heavily on rookie superstar Caitlin Clark, who leads the league in minutes. Lambert’s arrival allows Clark to slide off the ball at times while giving Kelsey Mitchell much-needed rest. The 5-foot-9 Lambert brings defensive quickness, a 37 percent career three-point mark overseas, and, perhaps most importantly, fresh legs for a Fever team battling fatigue in the stretch run. Path to the WNBA Lambert went undrafted in 2021 after suffering three ACL tears in college, but she rebuilt her résumé overseas. With Olympiacos she averaged 12.4 points, 5.0 assists, and 2.1 steals while shooting 41 percent from beyond the arc, numbers that put her back on WNBA scouting radars. Inside the Hardship Contract A hardship contract can be issued only when a club has fewer than 10 healthy players. It lasts seven days but can be renewed if the Fever still meet hardship criteria. Lambert will wear No. 15 and is eligible immediately, starting with tonight’s home matchup against the Chicago Sky. What’s Next If Lambert impresses, Indiana could convert the deal into a standard contract, similar to how the Fever retained Lexie Hull last season. For now, the point guard gets a one-week audition on one of the league’s most-watched teams. How to Watch Tip-off vs. Chicago is set for 7 p.m. ET on WNBA League Pass and NBA TV. Fans can follow live updates on the Fever’s social channels using the hashtag #FeverTogether, with Kyra Lambert expected to debut off the bench in the first quarter.