WNBA Indiana Fever

Larkins Signs Free Agent Contract to Return to Fever

Published on April 1, 2014 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Indiana Fever News Release


INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana Fever has re-signed restricted free agent Erlana Larkins to a multi-year contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.

Establishing herself as one of the top rebounders in the WNBA, Larkins is set to begin her fifth season in the league and her third with Indiana. Larkins' rise to prominence in the WNBA has been nothing short of meteoric for the Fever who welcomed the former first-round draft pick to training camp in 2012 after being waived by two different franchises. The 14th overall selection in the 2008 WNBA Draft, Larkins did not play in the league in either 2010 or 2011.

"We are very happy to have Erlana back in a Fever uniform," said President and General Manager Kelly Krauskopf. "She has clearly solidified herself as one of our key post players and as one of the top rebounders in the league. She came in here two seasons ago and made a statement with her determination and work ethic. I look forward to more good seasons with her anchoring the frontcourt."

A 6-1 power forward, Larkins' aggressive rebounding produced 7.8 boards per game to pace the Fever in 2013 and rank eighth in the WNBA. On a team beset with injuries last season, Larkins was the club's only player to start in all 34 games. She notched four double-doubles while averaging 7.9 points and shooting 54.5 percent from the floor to ranked fifth in the league. She eclipsed her previous regular season high of 11 rebounds on five occasions last year, including 17 on Sept. 4 at Atlanta to match a franchise record.

In 2012, Larkins played a bench role through most of the season, getting re-acclimated to the WNBA and becoming acquainted with her new team. By the time Indiana reached the playoffs, however, she found herself in the starting lineup and became a rebounding force that challenged rebounding marks literally every game.

Larkins set the club's record for playoff rebounds in a single season during the Fever's 2012 championship run. In three playoff games that year, she fell one rebound shy of either the WNBA Playoffs or Finals single-game record for rebounds. She pulled down 20 rebounds in Game 3 of the conference semifinals to match the Fever playoff record and narrowly miss the league mark. Twice in the Finals, she collected 15 rebounds, one short of the Finals record.

Indiana opens training camp April 27, prior to hosting a preseason game with the Washington Mystics on Monday, May 5 (12:00 p.m.). The Fever opens the regular season at Chicago on May 16 before hosting its home opener against the Atlanta Dream on Saturday, May 17 (7:00 p.m.)

A WNBA playoff participant in nine straight seasons and 10 times since 2002, the Indiana Fever has reached at least the conference finals six times in the past nine years - including WNBA Finals appearances in 2009 and 2012. Just two seasons ago, Indiana capped the 2012 campaign as the champions of women's basketball, beating the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA Finals. The Fever begins its 2014 season at Chicago on Friday, May 16, and hosts a home opener Saturday, May 17 against Atlanta (7:00 p.m.). For season ticket information, visit FeverBasketball.com or call (317) 917-2528.

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