2019 Indiana Fever season

Last updated

2019 Indiana Fever season
Coach Pokey Chatman
Arena Bankers Life Fieldhouse
Attendance5,887 per game
Results
Record13–21 (.382)
Place4th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Team Leaders
Points Kelsey Mitchell – 13.6 ppg
Rebounds Teaira McCowan – 9.0 rpg
Assists Erica Wheeler – 5.0 apg
Media
Television Fox Sports Indiana, WNDY-TV, ESPN2, NBATV

The 2019 WNBA season was the 20th season for the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association. The Fever opened the season on May 24, 2019 against the New York Liberty. [1]

Contents

The Fever had a promising start to their season, winning three of their first four games. However, from there they lost eight of their next ten to finish June with a 5–9 record. July proved disastrous for any playoff hopes the team had. Six losses in the month were book-ended by two wins. One bright spot from July was that Erica Wheeler was named WNBA All-Star Game MVP. The Fever's form improved into August where they posted a 4–5 record. Winning their last two games proved too little too late, as they missed out on a playoff spot for the third straight year.

After the season, it was announced that General Manager and Head Coach Pokey Chatman would not return for the 2020 season. [2]

Transactions

WNBA draft

The Fever made three selections in the 2019 WNBA draft, which was held on April 10:

RoundPickPlayerNationalitySchool/Team/Country
13 Teaira McCowan Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Mississippi State
325 Paris Kea Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States North Carolina
328 Caliya Robinson Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Georgia

Trades and roster changes

DateDetails
February 1, 2019Signed F Natalie Achonwa [3] [4]
Signed G Shenise Johnson [3] [4]
Signed Erica Wheeler [3] [4]
February 5, 2019Signed G/F Betnijah Laney [5] [6]
February 18, 2019Signed F Asia Taylor to Training Camp Contract [7]
April 12, 2019Signed G Crystal Bradford to Training Camp Contract [8]
Signed G Bria Gross to Training Camp Contract [8]

Roster

2019 Indiana Fever roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHeightWeightDOBFromYrs
F 11 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Achonwa, Natalie 6' 3" (1.91m)190 lb (86kg)1992-11-22 Notre Dame 4
G 25 Flag of the United States.svg Burke, Kennedy 6' 1" (1.85m)182 lb (83kg)1997-08-16 UCLA R
F 4 Flag of the United States.svg Dupree, Candice 6' 2" (1.88m)178 lb (81kg)1984-02-25 Temple 13
G 42 Flag of the United States.svg Johnson, Shenise 5' 11" (1.8m)172 lb (78kg)1990-12-09 Miami (FL) 6
G 7 Flag of the United States.svg Kea, Paris 5' 9" (1.75m)142 lb (64kg)1996-04-07 North Carolina R
G 44 Flag of the United States.svg Laney, Betnijah 6' 0" (1.83m)160 lb (73kg)1993-10-29 Rutgers 3
F 23 Flag of the United States.svg Mavunga, Stephanie 6' 3" (1.91m)205 lb (93kg)1995-02-24 Ohio State 1
F 22 Flag of the United States.svg McCall, Erica 6' 2" (1.88m)184 lb (83kg)1995-08-21 Stanford 2
C 15 Flag of the United States.svg McCowan, Teaira 6' 7" (2.01m)239 lb (108kg)1996-09-28 Mississippi State R
G 3 Flag of the United States.svg Mitchell, Tiffany 5' 9" (1.75m)152 lb (69kg)1994-09-23 South Carolina 4
G 0 Flag of the United States.svg Mitchell, Kelsey 5' 11" (1.8m)151 lb (68kg)1995-11-12 Ohio State 1
G 35 Flag of the United States.svg Vivians, Victoria 6' 1" (1.85m)183 lb (83kg)1994-11-17 Mississippi State 1
G 17 Flag of the United States.svg Wheeler, Erica 5' 7" (1.7m)143 lb (65kg)1991-05-02 Rutgers 4
Head coach
Flag of the United States.svg Pokey Chatman (LSU)
Assistant coaches
Flag of the United States.svg Christie Sides (Louisiana Tech)
Athletic trainer
Flag of the United States.svg Todd Champlin (Daemen )
Strength and conditioning coach
Flag of the United States.svg Chase Campbell (Ball State)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured

Schedule

Preseason

2019 pre-season game log
May: 3–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 2–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1May 14@ Chicago Sky W 69–58 K. Mitchell (11) McCowan (8) K. Mitchell (4) Wintrust Arena
4,033		1–0
2May 16 Chicago Sky W 76–65 T. Mitchell (15)Tied (7) Wheeler (8) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
3,794		2–0
3May 19@ Dallas Wings W 71–66 K. Mitchell (26) McCowan (6) Johnson (6) College Park Center
3,428		3–0
2019 pre-season schedule

Regular season

2019 game log
Total: 13–21 (Home: 7–10 Road: 6–11)
May: 1–1 (Home: 0–0; Road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1May 24@ New York Liberty W 81–80 T. Mitchell (22) Dupree (7) Wheeler (5) Westchester County Center
1,965		1–0
2May 28@ Connecticut Sun L 77–88 Wheeler (26) Dupree (8) Wheeler (9) Mohegan Sun Arena
4,781		1–1
June : 4–8 (Home: 2–4; Road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
3June 1 New York Liberty W 92–77 K. Mitchell (23) McCowan (6) Wheeler (6) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
5,003		2–1
4June 7 Dallas Wings W 79–64 Achonwa (17)Tied (11) Wheeler (9) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
3,671		3–1
5June 9 Phoenix Mercury L 87–94 K. Mitchell (26) Achonwa (7) K. Mitchell (6) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
3,336		3–2
6June 11 Seattle Storm L 82–84 K. Mitchell (21) Dupree (15) K. Mitchell (7) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
3,506		3–3
7June 13@ Dallas Wings W 76–72 Dupree (20) Laney (11) T. Mitchell (5) College Park Center
3,562		4–3
8June 15 Chicago Sky L 64–70 K. Mitchell (16) T. Mitchell (8) Wheeler (8) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
4,715		4–4
9June 19@ Atlanta Dream L 78–88 Dupree (19) McCowan (14) Wheeler (5) State Farm Arena
6,474		4–5
10June 21@ Chicago Sky W 76–69 Wheeler (28) McCowan (13) Wheeler (8) Wintrust Arena
4,945		5–5
11June 23@ Seattle Storm L 61–65 Wheeler (18) McCowan (13) Wheeler (4) Alaska Airlines Arena
7,211		5–6
12June 25 Minnesota Lynx L 74–78 K. Mitchell (17)3 tied (7) Wheeler (4) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
4,692		5–7
13June 28@ Phoenix Mercury L 69–91 Dupree (15) McCowan (10) Wheeler (3) Talking Stick Resort Arena
9,435		5–8
14June 29@ Las Vegas Aces L 97–102 (OT) K. Mitchell (21) Achonwa (9) Wheeler (8) Mandalay Bay Events Center
4,581		5–9
July : 2–6 (Home: 1–3; Road: 1–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
15July 5@ Dallas Wings W 76–58 T. Mitchell (16) McCowan (12) Wheeler (7) College Park Center
5,093		6–9
16July 10 Las Vegas Aces L 71–74 Dupree (13) McCowan (12) Wheeler (7) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
9,247		6–10
17July 12 Los Angeles Sparks L 84–90 Tied (11)3 tied (5) K. Mitchell (5) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
7,849		6–11
18July 14 Connecticut Sun L 63–76 K. Mitchell (14) McCowan (8)Tied (4) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
6,434		6–12
19July 19 Washington Mystics L 88–95 (OT) Wheeler (18) Achonwa (12) Wheeler (5) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
6,726		6–13
20July 21@ Chicago Sky L 70–78 Wheeler (13) McCowan (16) Wheeler (9) Wintrust Arena
6,614		6–14
21July 23@ Phoenix Mercury L 77–95 Wheeler (18) McCowan (9) Wheeler (9) Talking Stick Resort Arena
8,528		6–15
22July 31 Atlanta Dream W 61–59 Wheeler (15) McCowan (14) K. Mitchell (4) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
5,702		7–15
August : 4–5 (Home: 3–2; Road: 1–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
23August 3 Minnesota Lynx W 86–75 K. Mitchell (20) McCowan (8) K. Mitchell (9) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
7,884		8–15
24August 8@ Washington Mystics L 78–91 K. Mitchell (18) Mavunga (6) K. Mitchell (6) St. Elizabeth's East Arena
3,013		8–16
25August 10 Atlanta Dream W 87–82 Wheeler (19) Dupree (9) Wheeler (7) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
7,923		9–16
26August 18@ Washington Mystics L 68–107 T. Mitchell (17) McCowan (10) Achonwa (5) St. Elizabeth's East Arena
4,034		9–17
27August 20 New York Liberty L 76–82 McCowan (24) McCowan (8)Tied (5) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
5,340		9–18
28August 22@ Los Angeles Sparks L 65–98 K. Mitchell (14) McCowan (7) Wheeler (6) Staples Center
8,816		9–19
29August 25@ Seattle Storm W 63–54 McCowan (22) McCowan (19)Tied (3) Alaska Airlines Arena
8,076		10–19
30August 27 Las Vegas Aces W 86–71 McCowan (24) McCowan (17)4 tied (4) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
6,958		11–19
31August 29 Los Angeles Sparks L 83–87 McCowan (24) McCowan (10) K. Mitchell (5) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
5,641		11–20
September : 2–1 (Home: 1–0; Road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
32September 1@ Minnesota Lynx L 73–81 Dupree (18) McCowan (11) T. Mitchell (6) Target Center
8,833		11–21
33September 6@ New York Liberty W 86–81 K. Mitchell (22) McCowan (13) Wheeler (6) Westchester County Center
2,301		12–21
34September 8 Connecticut Sun W 104–76 K. Mitchell (38) McCowan (9) Laney (7) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
5,451		13–21
2019 season schedule

Standings

# Eastern Conference
W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
1 Washington Mystics (1)268.765–14–312–513–3
2 Connecticut Sun (2)2311.676315–28–911–5
3 Chicago Sky (5)2014.588612–58–911–5
4e –Indiana Fever 1321.382137–106–117–9
5e –New York Liberty 1024.294164–136–113–13
6e –Atlanta Dream 826.235185–123–143–13

Awards and honors

RecipientAwardDate awardedRef.
Candice Dupree WNBA All-Star Selection July 15, 2019 [9]
Erica Wheeler
Teaira McCowan WNBA All-Rookie Team September 16, 2019 [10]

Statistics

Legend
  GPGames 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 gameTeam leaderLeague leader

Regular season

Source: [11]

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Kelsey Mitchell 342025.138.737.483.61.62.60.40.113.6
Candice Dupree 343430.747.2083.95.02.50.40.611.6
Erica Wheeler 343425.042.838.487.23.05.01.20.110.1
Teaira McCowan 341622.151.7068.79.00.20.61.310.0
Tiffany Mitchell 331425.238.129.089.22.82.20.60.19.7
Natalie Achonwa 301821.148.825.090.95.21.60.60.78.7
Betnijah Laney 342725.836.230.358.14.21.71.40.15.6
Shenise Johnson 17012.933.324.293.82.11.10.70.112.9
Kennedy Burke 31713.638.535.070.51.50.70.60.34.4
Paris Kea 1105.540.755.650.00.50.50.10.22.6
Stephanie Mavunga 2408.551.1070.62.30.20.30.32.5
Erica McCall 1506.913.601001.80.40.10.40.9

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References

  1. ↑ "Indiana Fever WNBA Basketball - Schedule". Fever.wnba.com. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Pokey Chatman Will Not Return As Head Coach & General Manager". WNBA.com. WNBA. September 9, 2019. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 "Achonwa, Johnson and Wheeler Sign Free Agent Deals". fever.wnba.com. WNBA. February 1, 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 "Fever re-sign Natalie Achonwa, Shenise Johnson and Erica Wheeler". espn.com. Associated Press. February 1, 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Fever Sign Betnijah Laney to Free Agent Contract". fever.wnba.com. WNBA. February 5, 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  6. ↑ Megdal, Howard (February 8, 2019). "Report: Indiana Fever set to sign Betnijah Laney". highposthoops.com. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Asia Taylor Signs Training Camp Contract to Return to Fever". fever.wnba.com. WNBA. February 18, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  8. 1 2 "Fever Sign Crystal Bradford and Bria Goss to training camp contracts". fever.wnba.com. WNBA. April 12, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  9. ↑ "Seven-Time Selection Charles, Dupree, Highlight Reserves For All-Star". wnba.com. WNBA. July 15, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Rookie of the Year Collier Headlines 2019 All-Rookie Team". wnba.com. WNBA. September 16, 2019. Retrieved September 16, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Team Stats". dream.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved September 16, 2019.
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