
Game Preview: Fever Open Regular Season At Gainbridge Fieldhouse Against Sun
May 18, 2023 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Indiana Fever News Release
The Indiana Fever begin the 24th regular season in franchise history Friday night with a 7 p.m. ET tip against the Connecticut Sun at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Fans in attendance are encouraged to wear red in support of the Fever's season-long campaign, "In-For-Red". In continuation, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett proclaimed Wednesday that May 19, 2023 is to be named 'Paint the Town Red Day' in celebration of the Fever 2023 season opener.
Friday night will be the first regular season game as a head coach for Christie Sides guiding the Fever franchise. Sides was tabbed as the ninth head coach in franchise history on November 4, 2022 after serving as an assistant coach for the Atlanta Dream during the 2022 season. She had been associate women's head coach at the University of Louisiana-Monroe since 2019, the role she moved to after a two-year stint with the Fever from 2018-19.
Indiana ended the 2023 preseason slate at 1-1, first falling at the Chicago Sky, 81-56, on May 7. Improvements in rebounding output, strong efforts on defense and a decrease in turnovers gave the Fever momentum to wrap up the preseason schedule with a 90-83 win at home against the Dallas Wings last Saturday. Standout performances against Dallas from guard Kelsey Mitchell and forward NaLyssa Smith allowed Indiana to close an early 11-point deficit and eventually pull ahead of the Wings at the beginning of the second half.
Friday will also be the regular season debut for the 2023 No. 1 overall pick in this year's WNBA Draft, Aliyah Boston, as well as the winningest player in Indiana University program history, Grace Berger.
The Fever own a 12-11 all-time record in season openers, but have lost the last three opening games of the season dating back to a win at New York to begin the 2019 season. Indiana is also 12-11 all-time in the first home regular season game of the season, but have lost the first game inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse each of the last two seasons.
HOW TO WATCH:
Friday's game will be broadcast on Bally Sports Indiana. Fans and media may also follow along on the official Indiana Fever Twitter accounts @IndianaFever.
INJURY REPORT:
No injuries
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