Grace Berger

Last updated

Grace Berger
Grace Berger.jpg
Berger with Indiana in 2022
No. 34–OGM Ormanspor
Position Point guard
League Turkish Super League
Personal information
Born (1999-06-03) June 3, 1999 (age 25)
Louisville, Kentucky, U.S
Listed height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Listed weight160 lb (73 kg)
Career information
High school Sacred Heart Academy
(Louisville, Kentucky)
College Indiana (2018–2023)
WNBA draft 2023: 1st round, 7th overall pick
Selected by the Indiana Fever
Playing career2023–present
Career history
2023–present Indiana Fever
2023 Gernika KESB
2024 Athletes Unlimited League
2024–present OGM Ormanspor
Career highlights and awards
  • 4× First-team All-Big Ten (2020–2023)
Stats at Basketball Reference  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Medals
Women's basketball
Representing the Flag of the United States.svg  United States
FIBA AmeriCup
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2021 Puerto Rico Team

Grace Elizabeth Berger (born June 3, 1999) is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for OGM Ormanspor of the Turkish Super League. Berger was drafted by the Fever as the #7 pick of the 2023 WNBA draft.

Contents

Early life

Berger played basketball for Sacred Heart Academy in Louisville, Kentucky. In her junior season, she averaged 14.5 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, helping her team win the Seventh Region title and reach the state finals. [1] As a senior, Berger earned Courier-Journal Athlete of the Year, Kentucky All-Star and Seventh Region Player of the Year honors after averaging 15.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists and leading Sacred Heart back to the regional final. [2] She was a three-time All-State selection in high school. [3] Rated a five-star recruit by ESPN, Berger committed to play college basketball for Indiana over offers from Kentucky, Louisville and Michigan. [4]

College career

As a freshman at Indiana, Berger averaged 5.5 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. [5] In her sophomore season, she averaged 13.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, leading her team to a program-record 24 wins. She was a first-team All-Big Ten selection. [6] On November 25, 2020, in her junior season debut, Berger recorded the first triple-double in program history, with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a 100–51 win against Eastern Kentucky. [7] She led the NCAA Division I with three triple-doubles during the season. Berger averaged 15.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists per game and was named first-team All-Big Ten. [8] At the 2021 NCAA tournament, she led Indiana to its first-ever Elite Eight appearance. [9] On February 12, 2022, Berger scored a career-high 29 points in a 76–58 win over Michigan State. [10] As a senior, she averaged 16.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game and was named first-team All-Big Ten for a third straight season. [11] Berger opted to return for a fifth year of eligibility, granted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [12]

Professional career

WNBA

Indiana Fever (2023–present)

On April 10, 2023, Berger was selected in the first round as the seventh overall pick of the 2023 WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever. [13] In her first season with the Fever, she appeared in 36 games and her role gradually grew as the season progressed. [14] [15]

Berger's role declined in her second season with the Fever and she appeared in only 11 regular-season games. [16]

Athletes Unlimited

Berger played in the 2024 season of the Athletes Unlimited League. [17]

Overseas

In the 2023 WNBA off-season, Berger played for Gernika KESB of the Liga Femenina de Baloncesto. However, a thumb injury cut her time in Europe short and she ended up playing only 8 games. [18]

In July 2024, Berger signed with OGM Ormanspor of the Turkish Super League. [19]

Career 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
 TO  Turnovers per game FG%  Field-goal percentage 3P%  3-point field-goal percentage FT%  Free-throw percentage
 Bold Career best°League leader

WNBA

Regular season

Stats current through end of 2024 season

WNBA regular season statistics [20]
YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGTOPPG
2023 Indiana 36014.6.449.471.8401.61.90.50.21.04.2
2024 Indiana 1109.3.400.400.6431.40.60.50.00.92.8
Career2 years, 1 team47013.3.441.462.7691.51.60.50.11.03.9

Playoffs

WNBA playoff statistics
YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGTOPPG
2024 Indiana 102.0———0.01.00.00.00.00.0
Career1 year, 1 team102.0———0.01.00.00.00.00.0

College

NCAA statistics [21]
YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGTOPPG
2018–19 Indiana 34420.3.422.217.5212.81.60.70.11.65.5
2019–20 Indiana 303034.4.456.300.7695.23.51.40.22.513.1
2020–21 Indiana 272734.1.441.324.7446.84.61.10.22.015.4
2021–22 Indiana 333336.4.460.261.7886.24.71.40.22.616.2
2022–23 Indiana 242432.0.484.407.7574.85.81.00.32.512.9
Career14811831.1.452.306.7425.13.91.10.22.212.4

National team career

Berger represented the United States at the 2021 FIBA AmeriCup. She averaged 6.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game, helping her team win the gold medal. [22]

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References

  1. ↑ Whitus, Tom (December 7, 2017). "Girls' Basketball: Future Hoosier, Valkyries at Jeff tonight". News and Tribune . Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  2. ↑ Hauari, Gabe (June 7, 2018). "Sacred Heart's Grace Berger named Courier Journal Kentucky Girls Athlete of the Year". The Courier-Journal . Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  3. ↑ Frakes, Jason (April 12, 2018). "Kentucky girls basketball All-State: Sacred Heart's Grace Berger". The Courier-Journal . Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  4. ↑ Beishuizen, Sam (November 14, 2016). "2018 Guard Grace Berger "Couldn't Wait Any Longer" To Commit To Indiana". TheHoosier. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  5. ↑ Schumann, Mike (November 6, 2019). "No. 24 Indiana Women's Basketball Looks to Keep Progressing With Deep Roster". The Daily Hoosier. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  6. ↑ Schumann, Mike (May 20, 2020). "Hoosiers Sights: Q&A with first team All-Big Ten IU women's basketball star Grace Berger". The Daily Hoosier. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  7. ↑ Schumann, Mike (November 25, 2020). "Grace Berger records first ever IU women's basketball triple double as Hoosiers cruise in opener". The Daily Hoosier. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Berger and Patberg Earn Spots On Wade Watch List". Indiana University Athletics. November 9, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  9. ↑ Clifford, Charlie (February 22, 2022). "Berger helps propel Indiana women's basketball into a national power". WISH-TV . Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  10. ↑ Tow, Seth (February 13, 2022). "Ex-Sacred Heart star Grace Berger racks up career-high 29 to lead No. 7 Indiana over MSU". The Courier-Journal . Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  11. ↑ Schumann, Mike (October 5, 2022). "IU women picked to finish second in Big Ten, Berger and Holmes earn preseason honors". The Daily Hoosier. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  12. ↑ Tow, Seth (February 18, 2022). "Big news for IU: Grace Berger to return to Indiana women's basketball". The Herald-Times . Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  13. ↑ Jordan, Haley (April 10, 2023). "Grace Berger Selected by Indiana Fever in First Round of WNBA Draft". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  14. ↑ CQMiles (September 22, 2023). "How well did Grace Berger do in year one with the Indiana Fever?". The Crimson Quarry. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  15. ↑ Peterson, Chloe. "'Worked her tail off from Day 1': How Indiana alum Grace Berger grew as Fever rookie". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  16. ↑ "'We're super proud': Teri Moren praises former Hoosier Grace Berger for impact on program". ‘We’re super proud’: Teri Moren praises former Hoosier Grace Berger for impact on program - Indiana Daily Student. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  17. ↑ Unlimited, Athletes (March 11, 2024). "Grace Berger Has Made Quick Adjustment to AU Pro Basketball". Athletes Unlimited. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  18. ↑ Lasley, Alec (May 3, 2024). "A more confident Grace Berger begins year two with Indiana Fever as expectations and buzz around the franchise rise". Hoosier Illustrated. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Ormanspor tabs Grace Berger". www.eurobasket.com. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Grace Berger WNBA Stats". Basketball Reference.
  21. ↑ "Grace Berger College Stats". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference . Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  22. ↑ "Grace Berger Wins Gold With USA Basketball At 2021 FIBA Women's AmeriCup". Indiana University Athletics. June 19, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
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