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WNBA Indiana Fever

Fever Look for Second Win over Dream in Sunday Afternoon Matchup in Atlanta

August 5, 2023 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Indiana Fever News Release


The Indiana Fever (7-20) will travel to Atlanta to take on the Dream at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday afternoon at Gateway Center Arena for the third matchup between the teams this season. Indiana earned its first win of the season after defeating the Dream in Atlanta, 90-87, on May 28. Atlanta took the second matchup between the two teams on June 18 with a 100-94 decision at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Indiana enters the matchup following an 88-72 loss to the 20-7 Connecticut Sun on Friday night. All-Star starter Aliyah Boston led all scorers for the 10th time this season as she notched 19 points on 6-of-11 shooting and 6-of-6 shooting from the charity stripe. Boston also led Indiana in rebounds for the third consecutive game with eight rebounds to go along with four assists and three steals. Indiana's other All-Star, Kelsey Mitchell, followed behind with 13 points, while Erica Wheeler added 12 points, four assists and three steals.

Sunday's matchup with Atlanta will feature a battle of the back-to-back No. 1 Draft picks, Boston and Rhyne Howard. Following her Rookie of the Year recognition in 2022, Howard has averaged 17.3 points per contest through Atlanta's 27 games this season, earning her a top 20 league ranking in scoring average. Boston, the projected 2023 Rookie of the Year, is leading the league in field goal percentage shooting 58.8 percent (151-of-257) while averaging 14.3 points and 7.9 rebounds per matchup. Both Boston and Howard lead their teams in steals, averaging 1.2 steals and 1.3 steals per game each.

Forward Emma Cannon has stepped up off the bench to average 10.5 points per contest through Indiana's most recent eight games. She recorded a career-high 23 points on August 1 and has started each of the last two games for Indiana.

Rookies Grace Berger and Victaria Saxton have also had an increased presence off the bench. Berger, who recorded a career-high 15 points against New York on July 12, is averaging 5.5 points per game and has dished out 15 total assists through Indiana's most recent eight games. Saxton earned the first points of her career on July 30 and has since averaged 4.6 points and 7.3 minutes of play in the last three games.

The matchup is expected to be high scoring as Atlanta and Indiana allow the most points in the league being ranked 11th and 12th in the league respectively in points allowed.

Indiana has been led in scoring by Mitchell this season, who averages 16.4 points per game, while Atlanta is led by Allisha Gray's 17.6 points per game. In addition, Mitchell completed her 1,000th career field goal on August 1 and has now recorded 1,006 field goals entering Sunday's matchup.

Indiana is ranked second in the WNBA in offensive rebounds averaging 9.2 per game, while Atlanta ranks fifth averaging 8.3 offensive rebounds per contest.

The Dream (14-13) enter the matchup in the midst of a two-game losing streak after falling to the Las Vegas Aces, 93-72, on Tuesday and the Phoenix Mercury, 91-71, on Thursday. Forward Cheyenne Parker led the Dream in scoring in both games after contributing 19 points on Tuesday and 20 points on Thursday. Parker also leads the third best team in the league in blocks, who averages 4.3 blocks per contest, averaging 1.4 blocks per game.

Probable Starters

Indiana Fever (7-20)

Guard - Kelsey Mitchell (16.4 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 3.1 apg)

Guard - Erica Wheeler (10.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 4.9 apg)

Guard - Lexie Hull (5.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.2 spg)

Forward - Emma Cannon (6.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 0.6 apg)

Center - Aliyah Boston (14.3 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 1.2 bpg)

Atlanta Dream (14-13)

Guard - Allisha Gray (17.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.1 spg)

Guard - Rhyne Howard (17.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.3 spg)

Guard - Danielle Robinson (4.9 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 3.0 apg)

Forward - Nia Coffey (7.0 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.2 bpg)

Forward - Cheyenne Parker (13.9 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.4 bpg)

Game Status Report

Indiana: NaLyssa Smith - out (left foot stress fracture)

Atlanta: TBA

Check out the Indiana Fever Statistics



Women's National Basketball Association Stories from August 5, 2023


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