2023 Indiana Fever season

The 2023 Indiana Fever season was the franchise's 24th season in the Women's National Basketball Association, and their first season under new head coach Christie Sides.

2023 Indiana Fever season
CoachChristie Sides
ArenaGainbridge Fieldhouse
Attendance4,067 per game
Results
Record13–27 (.325)
Place6th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid Not Qualify
Team Leaders
PointsKelsey Mitchell – 18.2 ppg
ReboundsNaLyssa Smith – 9.2 rpg
AssistsErica Wheeler – 5.0 apg
2024 season →

The Fever named Sides their new head coach on November 4, 2022. She previously spent two seasons in Indiana as an assistant coach from 2018 to 2019.[1]

The Fever won the 2023 WNBA Draft Lottery and were awarded the first overall pick for the first time in franchise history.[2]

The Fever started the season slowly going 1–3 in May, with their one win coming against Atlanta. The Fever showed improvement in June, finishing the season 4–7. However, they won four of six games in the middle of the month and took Chicago to overtime. Their improvement did not persist into July however, as the team went 1–9, including an eight game losing streak that spanned June and July. The team turned their fortunes around in August and finished 5–5. The team did lose five of six games in the middle of the month, but finished the month on a three game winning streak. The Fever finished September 2–3, with both wins coming against playoff teams. Their .325 winning percentage was the best since 2019 and their thirteen wins were the most since 2019.

Transactions

WNBA draft
See also: 2023 WNBA draft
Round Pick Player Nationality School/Team/Country
1 1 Aliyah Boston  United States South Carolina
1 7 Grace Berger  United States Indiana
2 13 Taylor Mikesell  United States Ohio State
2 17 LaDazhia Williams  United States LSU
3 25 Victaria Saxton  United States South Carolina

Transactions
Date Transaction
November 4, 2022 Hired Christie Sides as Head Coach[3]
January 4, 2023 Waived Florencia Chagas
January 11, 2023 Extended Qualifying Offers to Emma Cannon, Victoria Vivians, Khayla Pointer, Rennia Davis, and Temi Fagbenle[4]
January 13, 2023 Traded Danielle Robinson to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for Kristy Wallace[5]
January 20, 2023 Extended General Manager Contract for Lin Dunn and removed her Interim Tag. Promoted Hillary Spears to Assistant GM.[6]
February 1, 2023 Signed Erica Wheeler to a 2-Year Deal[7]
February 2, 2023 Signed Maya Caldwell to a 1-Year Deal[8]
Signed Chelsey Perry, Rennia Davis, and Khayla Pointer to Training Camp Contracts[9]
February 5, 2023 Signed Victoria Vivians[10]
February 8, 2023 Signed Emma Cannon to a 1-Year Deal[11]
February 15, 2023 Signed Bernadett Határ to a Training Camp Contract
March 29, 2023 Hired Paul Miller as Assistant Coach[12]
April 6, 2023 Waived Khayla Pointer[13]
April 14, 2023 Signed Grace Berger, Taylor Mikesell, LaDazhia Williams, and Victaria Saxton to Rookie Scale Contracts
April 17, 2023 Signed Aliyah Boston to a Rookie Scale Contract
April 23, 2023 Waived Chelsey Perry[14]
April 26, 2023 Waived Emily Engstler[15]
May 3, 2023 Waived Rennia Davis[16]
May 9, 2023 Waived LaDazhia Williams[17]
May 16, 2023 Waived Destanni Henderson[18]
May 17, 2023 Waived Taylor Mikesell[19]
May 18, 2023 Temporarily suspend the contract of Bernadett Határ due to Overseas Commitments[20]
June 8, 2023 Waived Bernadett Határ[21]
July 4, 2023 Traded Queen Egbo to the Washington Mystics in exchange for Amanda Zahui B[22]

Roster Changes

Roster
2023 Indiana Fever roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#Nat.NameHeightWeightDOBFromYrs
G 34 United States Berger, Grace 6' 0" (1.83m) 160 lb (73kg) 06-03-1999 Indiana R
F/C 7 United States Boston, Aliyah 6' 5" (1.96m) 220 lb (100kg) 12-11-2001 South Carolina R
G 11 United States Caldwell, Maya 5' 11" (1.8m) 160 lb (73kg) 12-15-1998 Georgia 1
F 32 United States Cannon, Emma 6' 2" (1.88m) 190 lb (86kg) 06-01-1989 Florida Southern 4
G 10 United States Hull, Lexie 6' 1" (1.85m) 155 lb (70kg) 09-13-1999 Stanford 1
G 0 United States Mitchell, Kelsey 5' 8" (1.73m) 160 lb (73kg) 1995-11-12 Ohio State 5
F 5 United States Saxton, Victaria 6' 2" (1.88m) 181 lb (82kg) 11-10-1999 South Carolina R
F 1 United States Smith, NaLyssa 6' 4" (1.93m) 185 lb (84kg) 08-08-2000 Baylor 1
G 35 United States Vivians, Victoria 6' 1" (1.85m) 183 lb (83kg) 1994-11-17 Mississippi State 4
G 3 Australia Wallace, Kristy 5' 11" (1.8m) 157 lb (71kg) 1996-01-03 Baylor 1
G 17 United States Wheeler, Erica 5' 7" (1.7m) 143 lb (65kg) 1991-05-02 Rutgers 7
F/C 30 Sweden Zahui B., Amanda 6' 5" (1.96m) 184 lb (83kg) 09-08-1993 Minnesota 7
Head coach
United States Christie Sides (Louisiana Tech)
Assistant coaches
United States Jessie Miller (UIC)
United States Karima Christmas-Kelly (Duke)
United States Paul Miller (Lake Forest College)
Athletic trainer
United States Garrett Hueber
Strength and conditioning coach
United States Shannon Patterson
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Depth
Pos. Starter Bench
PG Erica Wheeler Kristy Wallace
Grace Berger
SG Kelsey Mitchell Maya Caldwell
SF Lexie Hull Victoria Vivians
PF NaLyssa Smith Emma Cannon
Victaria Saxton
C Aliyah Boston Amanda Zahui B.

Schedule

Preseason
2023 pre-season game log
Total: 1–1 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–1)
May: 1–1 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1 May 7 @ Chicago L 56–81 Kelsey Mitchell (9) NaLyssa Smith (5) Destanni Henderson (3) Wintrust Arena
2,024		 0–1
2 May 13 Dallas W 90–83 Kelsey Mitchell (29) Queen Egbo (9) Erica Wheeler (9) Gainbridge Fieldhouse
2,084		 1–1
2023 pre-season schedule

Regular Season
2023 game log
Total: 13–27 (Home: 6–14; Road: 7–13)
May: 1–3 (Home: 0–1; Road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1 May 19 Connecticut L 61–70 Kelsey Mitchell (20) Boston
Smith (9)		 Erica Wheeler (5) Gainbridge Fieldhouse
7,356		 0–1
2 May 21 @ New York L 73–90 NaLyssa Smith (16) NaLyssa Smith (12) Kelsey Mitchell (3) Barclays Center
8,575		 0–2
3 May 28 @ Atlanta W 90–87 NaLyssa Smith (23) NaLyssa Smith (12) Erica Wheeler (4) Gateway Center Arena
3,209		 1–2
4 May 30 @ Connecticut L 78–81 Aliyah Boston (20) NaLyssa Smith (15) Erica Wheeler (7) Mohegan Sun Arena
5,317		 1–3
June : 4–7 (Home: 1–3; Road: 3–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
5 June 4 Las Vegas L 80–84 Kelsey Mitchell (22) Queen Egbo (10) Berger
Vivians (4)		 Gainbridge Fieldhouse
6,131		 1–4
6 June 6 @ Chicago L 103–108 (OT) Aliyah Boston (25) Aliyah Boston (11) Erica Wheeler (12) Wintrust Arena
5,201		 1–5
7 June 9 @ Minnesota W 71–69 Kelsey Mitchell (22) NaLyssa Smith (12) Grace Berger (4) Target Center
8,510		 2–5
8 June 11 Phoenix L 82–85 NaLyssa Smith (29) NaLyssa Smith (12) Erica Wheeler (8) Gainbridge Fieldhouse
5,013		 2–6
9 June 13 Washington W 87–66 Aliyah Boston (23) Aliyah Boston (14) Aliyah Boston (6) Gainbridge Fieldhouse
3,005		 3–6
10 June 15 @ Chicago W 92–90 Aliyah Boston (19) Boston
Smith (8)		 Kelsey Mitchell (5) Wintrust Arena
6,323		 4–6
11 June 18 Atlanta L 94–100 Aliyah Boston (25) NaLyssa Smith (7) Erica Wheeler (8) Gainbridge Fieldhouse
4,024		 4–7
12 June 22 @ Seattle W 80–68 Kelsey Mitchell (25) NaLyssa Smith (14) Boston
Wallace
Wheeler (5)		 Climate Pledge Arena
7,734		 5–7
13 June 24 @ Las Vegas L 88–101 NaLyssa Smith (26) NaLyssa Smith (11) Wallace
Wheeler (6)		 Michelob Ultra Arena
8,310		 5–8
14 June 26 @ Las Vegas L 80–88 Boston
Wheeler (20)		 Boston
Smith (14)		 Boston
Wheeler (3)		 Michelob Ultra Arena
 5–9
15 June 29 @ Phoenix L 63–85 Kelsey Mitchell (15) Boston
Smith (9)		 Boston
Mitchell
Wheeler (4)		 Footprint Center
9,047		 5–10
July : 1–9 (Home: 0–4; Road: 1–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
16 July 2 Chicago L 87–89 NaLyssa Smith (27) NaLyssa Smith (8) Kelsey Mitchell (8) Gainbridge Fieldhouse
4,004		 5–11
17 July 5 @ Minnesota L 83–90 Aliyah Boston (22) NaLyssa Smith (11) Erica Wheeler (7) Target Center
7,624		 5–12
18 July 7 @ Washington L 88–96 Lexie Hull (20) Boston
Smith (7)		 Erica Wheeler (7) Entertainment and Sports Arena
4,200		 5–13
19 July 9 Dallas L 76–77 Aliyah Boston (18) Aliyah Boston (8) Kelsey Mitchell (4) Gainbridge Fieldhouse
3,612		 5–14
20 July 12 New York L 87–95 (OT) Aliyah Boston (23) Boston
Vivians (9)		 Erica Wheeler (5) Gainbridge Fieldhouse
6,123		 5–15
21 July 19 Washington W 82–76 Kelsey Mitchell (18) Aliyah Boston (8) Kelsey Mitchell (5) Gainbridge Fieldhouse
14,406		 6–15
22 July 23 @ New York L 83–101 Victoria Vivians (16) Caldwell
Vivians (5)		 Grace Berger (5) Barclays Center
7,371		 6–16
23 July 25 @ Los Angeles L 78–79 Kelsey Mitchell (19) Vivians
Zahui B. (6)		 Erica Wheeler (8) Crypto.com Arena
5,565		 6–17
24 July 27 @ Los Angeles L 68–81 Erica Wheeler (17) Erica Wheeler (8) Erica Wheeler (7) Crypto.com Arena
11,970		 6–18
25 July 30 Seattle L 62–85 Kelsey Mitchell (19) Aliyah Boston (7) Mitchell
Wheeler (5)		 Gainbridge Fieldhouse
5,196		 6–19
August : 5–5 (Home: 4–4; Road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
26 August 1 Phoenix W 72–71 Emma Cannon (23) Aliyah Boston (11) Aliyah Boston (4) Gainbridge Fieldhouse
3,018		 7–19
27 August 4 Connecticut L 72–88 Aliyah Boston (19) Aliyah Boston (8) Boston
Wheeler (4)		 Gainbridge Fieldhouse
3,498		 7–20
28 August 6 @ Atlanta L 73–82 Aliyah Boston (25) Aliyah Boston (10) Erica Wheeler (5) Gateway Center Arena
3,209		 7–21
29 August 8 Los Angeles L 80–87 Kelsey Mitchell (21) Aliyah Boston (9) Kristy Wallace (7) Gainbridge Fieldhouse
3,006		 7–22
30 August 10 Minnesota W 91–73 Kelsey Mitchell (24) Aliyah Boston (10) Erica Wheeler (10) Gainbridge Fieldhouse
2,551		 8–22
31 August 13 New York L 89–100 Kelsey Mitchell (22) Boston
Smith (9)		 Aliyah Boston (5) Gainbridge Fieldhouse
5,019		 8–23
32 August 18 Washington L 79–83 Emma Cannon (17) Aliyah Boston (10) Kelsey Mitchell (7) Gainbridge Fieldhouse
3,506		 8–24
33 August 20 @ Phoenix W 83–73 Kelsey Mitchell (28) NaLyssa Smith (11) Grace Berger (5) Footprint Center
11,807		 9–24
34 August 24 Seattle W 90–86 Kelsey Mitchell (36) NaLyssa Smith (11) Kristy Wallace (5) Gainbridge Fieldhouse
2,644		 10–24
35 August 27 Atlanta W 83–80 Kristy Wallace (20) NaLyssa Smith (13) Kelsey Mitchell (6) Gainbridge Fieldhouse
4,034		 11–24
September : 2–3 (Home: 1–2; Road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
36 September 1 Dallas L 100–110 Aliyah Boston (18) Boston
Smith (11)		 Erica Wheeler (10) Gainbridge Fieldhouse
3,137		 11–25
37 September 3 @ Dallas W 97–84 (OT) Mitchell
Smith (30)		 Aliyah Boston (11) Erica Wheeler (11) College Park Center
5,058		 12–25
38 September 5 Chicago L 69–96 NaLyssa Smith (16) NaLyssa Smith (7) Grace Berger (6) Gainbridge Fieldhouse
2,450		 12–26
39 September 8 @ Connecticut L 59–76 Kelsey Mitchell (15) Aliyah Boston (7) Erica Wheeler (3) Mohegan Sun Arena
5,064		 12–27
40 September 10 Minnesota W 87–72 Kelsey Mitchell (24) Aliyah Boston (12) Smith
Wheeler (3)		 Gainbridge Fieldhouse
4,009		 13–27
2023 season schedule

Standings
# Team
W L PCT GB Conf. Home Road Cup
1 x – Las Vegas Aces346.850–18–219–115–59–1
2 x – New York Liberty328.800216–415–517–37–3
3 x – Connecticut Sun2713.675714–613–714–67–3
4 x – Dallas Wings2218.5501211–911–911–96–4
5 x – Atlanta Dream1921.4751511–911–98–126–4
6 x – Minnesota Lynx1921.4751512–89–1110–105–5
7 x – Washington Mystics1921.475159–1112–87–135–5
8 x – Chicago Sky1822.450165–157–1311–93–7
9 e – Los Angeles Sparks1723.425179–1110–107–135–5
10 e – Indiana Fever1327.325215–156–147–132–8
11 e – Seattle Storm1129.275238–124–167–134–6
12 e – Phoenix Mercury931.225252–188–121–191–9

Notes

(#) – League Standing
x – Clinched playoff berth
e – Eliminated from postseason contention
Source: Overall standings and Commissioner's Cup Standings

Statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game  RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game  BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage  TO  Turnovers per game
 PF  Fouls per game Team leader League leader

Regular Season
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Kelsey Mitchell 40 40 33.7 .441 .398 .824 1.6 3.1 0.9 0.1 18.2
NaLyssa Smith 31 28 28.5 .477 .284 .677 9.2 1.4 0.3 0.3 15.5
Aliyah Boston 40 40 31.2 .578 .400 .745 8.4 2.2 1.3 1.3 14.5
Erica Wheeler 40 40 26.8 .398 .309 .878 3.0 5.0 1.1 0.1 9.9
Kristy Wallace 37 9 19.7 .401 .435 .750 2.2 1.9 0.6 0.2 6.6
Emma Cannon 30 3 10.5 .455 .382 .909 3.1 0.5 0.1 0.1 5.8
Victoria Vivians 38 14 17.7 .380 .287 .767 3.1 1.3 0.7 0.2 5.2
Lexie Hull 30 25 20.6 .372 .217 .773 2.7 1.1 1.0 0.3 4.6
Grace Berger 36 0 14.6 .449 .471 .840 1.6 1.9 0.5 0.2 4.2
Queen Egbo† 16 0 8.9 .400 .000 .647 4.0 0.1 0.1 0.5 2.9
Maya Caldwell 30 1 10.1 .292 .138 .857 0.9 0.6 0.3 0.1 1.9
Amanda Zahui B.≠ 22 0 7.3 .261 .130 .750 1.0 0.3 0.1 0.5 1.5
Victaria Saxton 15 0 3.6 .333 .500 .857 0.7 0.0 0.1 0.0 1.3


‡Waived/Released during the season
†Traded during the season
≠Acquired during the season

Awards and honors
Recipient Award Date awarded Ref.
Aliyah Boston Rookie of the Month - May June 2 [23]
Eastern Conference Player of the Week June 20 [24]
WNBA All-Star Starter June 25 [25]
Rookie of the Month - June July 5 [26]
Rookie of the Month - August September 6 [27]
WNBA Rookie of the Year October 2 [28]
WNBA All-Rookie Team
Kelsey Mitchell WNBA All-Star July 1 [29]
Eastern Conference Player of the Week August 29 [30]

References
  1. "Christie Sides Introduced as Fever Head Coach". fever.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  2. "Indiana Fever Land No. 1 Overall Pick in 2023 WNBA Draft". fever.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  3. "Indiana Fever Hire Christie Sides as Head Coach". fever.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  4. @RachGall (January 11, 2023). "The Indiana Fever extended Qualifying Offers to Khayla Pointer, Rennia Davis, Temi Fagbenle, Emma Cannon and Victoria Vivians. @Winsidr" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  5. "Fever Acquire Guard in Trade with Atlanta Dream". fever.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  6. "Indiana Fever Extend Lin Dunn's Contract as General Manager". fever.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  7. "Indiana Fever Sign Free Agent Erica Wheeler". fever.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  8. "Indiana Fever Sign Free Agent Maya Caldwell". fever.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  9. "Indiana Fever Sign Three Players to Training Camp Contracts". fever.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  10. "Indiana Fever Re-Sign Veteran Guard Victoria Vivians". fever.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  11. "Indiana Fever Re-Sign Veteran Forward Emma Cannon". fever.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  12. "Indiana Fever Add Paul Miller as Assistant Coach". fever.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  13. "Fever Waive Khayla Pointer". fever.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  14. "Fever Waive Chelsey Perry". fever.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  15. "Fever Waive Emily Engstler". fever.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  16. "Fever Waive Rennia Davis". fever.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  17. "Fever Waive LaDazhia Williams". fever.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  18. "Fever Waive Destanni Henderson". fever.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  19. "Fever Waive Taylor Mikesell". fever.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  20. "Indiana Fever Announce 2023 Opening Night Roster". fever.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  21. "Fever Waive Bernadett Hatar". fever.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  22. "Mystics Acquire Queen Egbo". mystics.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  23. "Aliyah Boston Named WNBA Rookie of the Month". fever.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  24. @WNBA (June 20, 2023). "🏀 Week 4 Players of the Week 🏀 Eastern Conference: @aa_boston @IndianaFever 22.3 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 1.7 BPG 2-1 week record Western Conference: @jewellloyd @seattlestorm 24.3 PPG, 3.7 APG, 1.0 SPG 2-1 week record #MoreThanGame" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  25. M.A. Voepel (June 25, 2023). "Brittney Griner, Aliyah Boston named WNBA All-Star starters". ESPN. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  26. "Aliyah Boston Earns Second Rookie of the Month Award". fever.wnba.com. WNBA. July 5, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  27. "Aliyah Boston Earns Third WNBA Rookie of the Month Recognition". fever.wnba.com. WNBA. September 6, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  28. "Indiana Fever's Aliyah Boston Named 2023 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year". WNBA. October 2, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  29. "Connecticut Sun's Alyssa Thomas, Washington Mystics' Elena Delle Donne Highlight Reserves For 2023 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game". wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  30. "Kelsey Mitchell Named WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week". liberty.wnba.com. WNBA. August 29, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
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