The 45-year-old, who has lost her last eight matches, heads back to 'Tennis Paradise' in search of form and a first victory since July.
With qualification still taking place at Indian Wells, her opponent is yet to be determined.
The women's draw sees each of the 32 seeded players given byes through the first round, with world number one and top seed, Aryna Sabalenka, likely to play wildcard Alycia Parks in the second round.
If she is to win her first crown in California, the Belarusian will likely have to see off seeded players Naomi Osaka, champion in 2018, as well as young star Victoria Mboko, to reach the semis.
Mirra Andreeva, who defeated Sabalenka in last year's final, could face Peyton Stearns in the second round, before potential meetings with Leylah Fernandez and Elina Svitolina to reach the last eight.
Meanwhile, Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina and Jessica Pegula have been put on the other side of the bracket, with the Australian Open champion, Rybakina, projected to play Pegula in the quarter-finals.
On the men's side of the draw, five-time champion Novak Djokovic is the third seed behind Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner for the tournament.
Alcaraz has potentially the hardest second-round opponent in the shape of Grigor Dimitrov. The pair met at Indian Wells in 2025, with the Spaniard winning their third-round match 6-1, 6-1.
Defending champion Jack Draper will face either Fabian Marozsan or Roberto Bautista Agut in the second round, and if he makes it through to the fourth round, he faces a potential contest with Djokovic.
Sebastian Korda - a home favourite, and an ATP title winner in recent weeks - must go through the first round, where he will take on Argentina's Francesco Comesana. The winner of that clash will face sixth seed Alex De Minaur in the second round.
Click here for the full men's draw and the potential pathways for your favourite player, and here for the women's draw.