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WNBA Indiana Fever

Game Preview: Fever Look for First Regular Season Win against New York on Sunday Afternoon

July 22, 2023 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Indiana Fever News Release


The Indiana Fever (6-15) start a three-game road trip in New York on Sunday for a 3 p.m. tip time against the Liberty, who have won nine of its last 11 games entering Sunday.

The Fever enter the matchup with momentum after ending an eight-game losing skid in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday afternoon after defeating the Mystics, 82-76, in the first game back after the All-Star break. Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell guided Indiana to the win with her 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting to go along with a team-high five assists and four steals. Mitchell was followed in the scoring column by Emma Cannon's 13 points, Victoria Vivians and Aliyah Boston's 11 points and Erica Wheeler's 10 points.

Indiana is led by Mitchell and Boston, who are averaging 16.8 and 15.2 points per game respectively. Mitchell, Boston and NaLyssa Smith all rank in the top 20 in scoring average throughout the league, while Mitchell also enters Sunday sixth in the league for most made 3-point field goals this season at 49. Boston has continued to solidify her case for Rookie of the Year as she continues to lead the league in field goal percentage at 60.1 percent from the floor and ranks seventh in the WNBA in rebounds averaging 8.4 rebounds per game. The rookie All-Star has also consistently led all rookies in scoring average, rebounds, blocked shots (1.2 bpg) and minutes played (30.9 mpg).

Indiana dropped both earlier matchups to New York this season, but showed vast improvement at home on July 12 in the second game. After being defeated in New York, 90-73, in the second game of the regular season, the Fever narrowly fell to the Liberty in an overtime affair, 95-87, on July 12. After erasing a 20-point deficit with a 32-10 scoring run, Boston hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer to cap off the run and send the game to overtime. Boston led Indiana in the scoring column in the most recent matchup with New York with 23 points on 10-of-19 shooting from the floor. Emma Cannon came off the bench to tie a career-high 19 points on a season-high seven made field goals. In addition, rookie guard Grace Berger set new career bests of 15 points, seven rebounds, three steals and 36 minutes of action.

Fever starting guard Lexie Hull is expected to return to the floor on Sunday after being absent two games due to injury. Hull enters the matchup averaging 5.7 points and a team-leading 1.1 steals per contest. In addition, Kristy Wallace and Cannon have offered impactful minutes off the bench averaging 7.0 and 5.4 points per game respectively.

For New York, Sabrina Ionescu led the way in the July 12 win as she netted 34 points on the day. The Liberty guard, who has shot a team-leading 44.3 percent through 20 games this season, shot 7-of-14 from 3-point range and went 9-of-9 from the charity stripe. All-Star captain Breanna Stewart recorded her 10th double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Jonquel Jones followed behind with 12 points.

New York comes into Sunday as the best team in the league in assists and are also tied for first in the WNBA in three-point percentage, shooting 38.2 percent from beyond the arc. All five of New York's projected starters average double-figures in scoring as well. Stewart leads the way averaging 23.2 points per game to go along with a team-high 9.7 rebounds per contest. She is followed by Ionescu (16.7 ppg), Jonquel Jones (11.2 ppg), Courtney Vandersloot (10.8 ppg) and Betnijah Laney (10.3 ppg). Vandersloot also recorded 12 assists in the July 12 matchup against the Fever and leads the league averaging 8.3 assists per contest.

Probable Starters

Indiana Fever (6-15)

Guard - Kelsey Mitchell (16.8 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 3.1 apg)

Guard - Erica Wheeler (9.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 5.0 apg)

Guard - Lexie Hull (5.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.1 spg)

Forward - Victoria Vivians (4.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.5 apg)

Center - Aliyah Boston (15.2 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 1.2 bpg)

New York Liberty (15-5)

Guard - Sabrina Ionescu (16.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 5.4 apg)

Guard - Courtney Vandersloot (10.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 8.3 apg)

Forward - Betnijah Laney (10.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.1 apg)

Forward - Breanna Stewart (23.2 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 1.5 spg)

Center - Jonquel Jones (11.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.4 bpg)

Game Status Report

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

New York: TBA

Check out the Indiana Fever Statistics



Women's National Basketball Association Stories from July 22, 2023


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