WNBA Indiana Fever

Playoff Fever

Published on August 21, 2005 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Indiana Fever News Release


The Indiana Fever has clinched at least third place in the Eastern Conference, and is playing for home-court advantage during the final week of the regular season ... Indiana is 7 games above .500 for the first time in franchise history! Follow the Fever (19-12, 2nd place in the WNBA's Eastern Conference) into the WNBA Playoffs!

THIS WEEK'S GAMES & PROMOTIONS

Only one home game remains:

- Saturday, Aug. 27 vs. New York (7:00 p.m.) - Fan Appreciation Night, fans receive a team poster courtesy of Sport Graphics and WISH TV-8

FEVER IN THE STANDINGS & PLAYOFF RACE

- Indiana has clinched the second playoff berth in franchise history, and has a magic number of 2 to clinch second place in the East - and with it, home-court advantage in the First Round of the WNBA Playoffs. Indiana is all but assured of meeting the New York Liberty in a first-round matchup, though New York is one win (or one Detroit loss) from securing at least third place, also. The Fever and Liberty meet at Conseco Fieldhouse in the final game of the regular season.

- The Fever currently trails just Connecticut in the Eastern Conference standings, with three regular season games remaining. The top two finishers in each conference earn home-court advantage in the First Round of the WNBA Playoffs.

- The Fever has won a franchise-record 19 games overall, and a franchise-record 13 games at Conseco Fieldhouse (13-2). Indiana has secured the first winning season in its six-year history.

- The Fever is 12-5 against the Eastern Conference, the best record in the WNBA.

FEVER ATTENDANCE

- Indiana has drawn season-high crowds in three of its past four home games, each time eclipsing 9,200 fans. The Fever averages 8,291 fans through 16 home dates - a 9.2 percent increase in attendance from 2004.

- The Fever has averaged crowds at 84 percent of the Conseco Fieldhouse WNBA capacity of 9,823.

FEVER PLAYER & COACH NEWS

- Tamika Catchings broke the Fever's franchise mark for assists during last week's West Coast road trip. She is an MVP candidate in the WNBA, as well as a top contender as the Defensive Player of the Year.

- Catchings is the only WNBA player ranked among the league's Top 10 in points (8th), rebounds (3rd), assists (9th) and steals (1st). She leads the WNBA with 87 steals, and is second in the league with 1.02 steals per turnover (trailing only teammate Tully Bevilaqua).

- Catchings needs just three assists to break the WNBA mark of 135 assists by a forward (Swin Cash, 2004). Catchings is also within eight steals of breaking her own franchise record for steals (94 in 2002), and 14 from breaking the WNBA's all-time record for single-season steals (100 by Teresa Weatherspoon in 1998).

- Catchings has become the fastest player in WNBA history to reach each of four significant milestones: 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 400 assists, 300 steals. The remarkable statistic is that she accomplished all four milestones in just her FOURTH season (125 games). Previously, the fastest person to accomplish all four milestones was Sheryl Swoopes who reached her fourth milestone in her SEVENTH season (191 games).

- Catchings is just the fifth player in WNBA history to reach all four milestones - and only the second to do so in less than 200 games.

- Other postseason awards candidates:

Brian Winters - Coach of the Year - In his second year at the Fever helm, Winters has led Indiana to a dramatically-improved season, rising from sixth in the Eastern Conference in 2004, to its current position in second place - and the first winning season in franchise history. The Fever has set a franchise record for wins and currently is 7 games above .500 for the first time in its history. The Fever clinched a playoff spot with more than a week remaining in the regular season, and owns the third-best record in the WNBA. Indiana leads the WNBA in steals, steals-to-turnover ratio, and is second in the league in defense (63.4 ppg).

Tully Bevilaqua - Most Improved Player - Bevilaqua has surpassed her previous season-high for points (170), dating to her days as the starting point guard in Portland (153 in each of 2000 & 2001). Her season averages for points (6.1) and assists (2.6) both exceed her previous career averages (3.3 and 1.9), and she leads the league in steals-to-turnover ratio (1.24). In her last six games, she has 14 steals and just three turnovers while logging more than 30 minutes per game as the team's point guard. Her grit, tenacity, veteran leadership and her persona on and off the court have been instrumental in solidifying the Fever's point guard position and lifting Indiana from sixth place to second - and securing the first winning season in franchise history.

Tan White - Rookie of the Year - White is third on the Fever in scoring with 7.5 points per game, and third in the WNBA among all rookies. Her 26 points at Seattle were the most by a WNBA rookie this season, and her 1.6 assists also are second among rookie leaders. She is also third among rookies with just under one steal per game.

Check out the Indiana Fever Statistics

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