The Indiana Fever re-signed Shenise Johnson after she did not play a game in 2018 through injury.

Shenise Johnson did not play a game last season thanks to the ACL tear which cost her 20 games in the 2017 season. Despite this, the Indiana Fever re-signed the 5’11 guard to another contract.

The reason for this is simple. The Fever are a better team with her in the lineup. The numbers bear this out. Before she went down in 2017 the Fever had a respectable 6-8 record which is a 43 percent win record. Johnson was averaging 11.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game in that stretch.

After the injury the Fever went 3-17 on the 2017 season. Last season, without Johnson in the lineup for the whole season the Fever went 6-28. Without Johnson for a season and a half the Fever had a 9-45 record. This is a 17 percent win record which is appalling.

With Johnson coming back the Fever are going to be at least a 10 win team. She is also going to be a tremendous mentor to the younger players on the roster. She will take Kelsey Mitchell under her wing and develop her into the player this team needs. She will also take the pressure off her shoulders, allowing her to grow without the weight of a franchise on her shoulders.

Re-signing Johnson is not going to make the Fever a contender or even a playoff team, she is going to make them better. Add in the number three draft pick and the Fever have a brighter future.

For full free agency coverage check out our 2019 free agency central.

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