WNBA Indiana Fever

Fever and Lynx Meet for First Time in 2023 on Friday Night

Published on June 9, 2023 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Indiana Fever News Release


The Indiana Fever (1-5) look to earn the second win of the regular season on Friday night as they travel to Minnesota to take on the Lynx for an 8 p.m. ET tipoff. The Fever are 17-33 against the Lynx all-time, and only 8-17 when on the road.

Last time out for the Fever was a loss at Chicago in an overtime affair, 108-103. Fever guard Erica Wheeler shined on the offensive end, dishing out a franchise record 12 assists to support her 12 points. The six Fever players who finished the night scoring in double figures were led by rookie center Aliyah Boston, who notched a career-high 25 points and 11 rebounds. The WNBA Rookie of the Month shot a near-perfect 12-of-15 from the floor, catapulting her to a first-place ranking in the WNBA in field goal percentage as she improved to 70.9 percent on the season.

Kristy Wallace contributed 16 points against Chicago and has provided impactful support off the bench for Indiana, averaging 8.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 22.0 minutes per game.

The Minnesota Lynx lost the first six games to begin the regular season, eventually earning the first win last time out June 3 at Washington. The Lynx narrowly avoided tying the franchise record for consecutive losses to open the season after a putback layup from Tiffany Mitchell with three seconds to go sealed the win. In the win, the Lynx were led in scoring by Kayla McBride's 24 points, followed by Napheesa Collier who added 17 points and nine rebounds.

Collier, the 2019 WNBA Rookie of the Year, leads the team in scoring (18.6 ppg) and blocks (1.1 bpg), while averaging 5.9 rebounds per game. The Lynx have been without the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft, Diamond Miller, due to a right ankle sprain sustained on May 30. Miller had been averaging 10.4 points and 3.0 rebounds in the first five games of her career.

The aforementioned Tiffany Mitchell played seven seasons with the Fever after being drafted by the franchise in 2016 and will face Indiana for the first time since signing with the Lynx this offseason. She is averaging 12.0 points per game and 3.7 rebounds this season.

Probable Starters

Center - Aliyah Boston (15.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.7 apg)

Forward - NaLyssa Smith (13.2 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 1.2 apg)

Guard - Lexie Hull (4.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.0 apg)

Guard - Kelsey Mitchell (16.7 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.17 spg)

Guard - Erica Wheeler (7.7 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 5.2 apg)

Minnesota Lynx (1-6)

Forward - Napheesa Collier (18.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.14 bpg)

Forward - Jessica Shepard (9.9 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 5.0 apg)

Forward - Dorka Juhász (2.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.3 apg)

Guard - Kayla McBride (14.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.2 apg)

Guard - Tiffany Mitchell (12.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.7 apg)

Game Status Report

Indiana: None

Minnesota: Aerial Powers - questionable (right ankle), Diamond Miller - out (right ankle), Natalie Achonwa - not with team (maternity leave)

Check out the Indiana Fever Statistics

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Women's National Basketball Association Stories from June 9, 2023


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