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WNBA Indiana Fever

Fever Start Four-Game Road Trip in Seattle on Thursday

June 21, 2023 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Indiana Fever News Release


The Indiana Fever begin a four-game trip out west on Thursday in Seattle taking on the Storm at 10 p.m. ET.

Indiana enters the matchup following a 100-94 loss to the Atlanta Dream on Sunday afternoon in Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Fever fell just short of a win after reducing a 16-point lead to four with seconds to go in the game while scoring 34 points in the fourth quarter, a new scoring output record for a quarter this season.

Both Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell finished the night contributing their fourth 20-point games of the season. Boston led the scoring effort against the Dream as she notched 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting. In addition, she also recorded a new career-best four blocked shots. Mitchell followed right behind as she recorded a season-high 24 points on the night to go along with four assists.

On Tuesday, Boston was named the WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week, following her recognition as WNBA Rookie of the Month in May. During the week of June 12-18, Boston averaged 22.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game, while shooting 69.2 percent (27-of-39) from the floor and 13-of-14 from the free throw line. The rookie center became the first player in WNBA history to record at least 20 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, one block and one steal in a game while shooting better than 75 percent from the floor.

While leading the WNBA in field goal percentage at 66.4 percent (71-of-107), Boston has consistently led all 2023 rookies in scoring average (16.0 ppg), rebounds (7.7 rpg), blocks (1.6 bpg) and minutes played (29.1 mpg).

Boston and the Fever frontline pulled down eight offensive rebounds against the Dream on Sunday while allowing Atlanta only three offensive boards throughout the 40 minutes, which is the lowest amount for an Indiana opponent this season. Indiana ranks second in the league in offensive rebounds, averaging 9.6 per game.

So far this season, Indiana is led in scoring by the sixth-year guard Mitchell averaging 17.5 points per game and ranks near the top ten in scoring average throughout the league. Second-year forward NaLyssa Smith ranks fifth in the league in rebounds, averaging 9.5 rebounds a game, while also averaging 14.1 points per game.

Indiana's reserves have been strong off the bench and enter the matchup Thursday with significant minutes. Kristy Wallace leads the bench in scoring, averaging 8.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. Queen Egbo has eight blocks so far this season, as well as averaging 4.0 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.

The Seattle Storm enter the matchup after being narrowly defeated at home by the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday, 85-79. Four-time WNBA All-Star Jewell Loyd scored 33 points against the Sun directly after recording a season-high 39 points in the Storm 109-103 victory against Dallas over the weekend. Loyd is leading the league in scoring averaging 26.2 points a game.

Seattle center Ezi Magbegor had 13 points and 11 rebounds in the matchup Tuesday. She has recorded four double-doubles on the season and averages 8.7 rebounds and 2.45 blocks a game, ranking her second in the league in blocks.

Seattle has won two of the last four games, after starting the 2023 regular season losing six of its first seven.

Probable Starters

Indiana Fever (4-7)

Guard - Kelsey Mitchell (17.5 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 2.5 apg)

Guard - Erica Wheeler (8.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 5.3 apg)

Forward - NaLyssa Smith (14.1 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 1.5 apg)

Forward - Lexie Hull (4.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 0.73 spg)

Center - Aliyah Boston (16.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 1.6 bpg)

Seattle Storm (3-8)

Guard - Kia Nurse (6.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.6 apg)

Guard - Jewell Loyd (26.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.7 apg)

Guard - Ivana Dojkic (9.1 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 2.6 apg)

Center - Mercedes Russell (4.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.8 apg)

Forward - Ezi Magbegor (14.4 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 2.5 bpg)

Game Status Report

Indiana: TBAg

Seattle: TBA

Check out the Indiana Fever Statistics



Women's National Basketball Association Stories from June 21, 2023


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