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.
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.
The Fever won the 2023 WNBA draft Lottery and were awarded the first overall pick for the first time in franchise history, where the team selected Aliyah Boston.
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
RoundPickPlayerNationalitySchool/Team/Country 1 1 Aliyah Boston South Carolina 1 7 Grace Berger Indiana 2 13 Taylor Mikesell Ohio State 2 17 LaDazhia Williams LSU 3 25 Victaria Saxton South Carolina
Transactions DateTransaction November 4, 2022 Hired Christie Sides as Head Coach January 4, 2023 Waived Florencia Chagas January 11, 2023 Extended Qualifying Offers to Emma Cannon, Victoria Vivians, Khayla Pointer, Rennia Davis, and Temi Fagbenle January 13, 2023 Traded Danielle Robinson to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for Kristy Wallace January 20, 2023 Extended General Manager Contract for Lin Dunn and removed her Interim Tag. Promoted Hillary Spears to Assistant GM. February 1, 2023 Signed Erica Wheeler to a 2-Year Deal February 2, 2023 Signed Maya Caldwell to a 1-Year Deal Signed Chelsey Perry, Rennia Davis, and Khayla Pointer to Training Camp Contracts February 5, 2023 Signed Victoria Vivians February 8, 2023 Signed Emma Cannon to a 1-Year Deal February 15, 2023 Signed Bernadett Határ to a Training Camp Contract March 29, 2023 Hired Paul Miller as Assistant Coach April 6, 2023 Waived Khayla Pointer 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 April 26, 2023 Waived Emily Engstler May 3, 2023 Waived Rennia Davis May 9, 2023 Waived LaDazhia Williams May 16, 2023 Waived Destanni Henderson May 17, 2023 Waived Taylor Mikesell May 18, 2023 Temporarily suspend the contract of Bernadett Határ due to Overseas Commitments June 8, 2023 Waived Bernadett Határ July 4, 2023 Traded Queen Egbo to the Washington Mystics in exchange for Amanda Zahui B
Roster Changes
Additions
PersonnelSignedFormer team Kristy Wallace Trade Atlanta Dream Erica Wheeler Free Agency Atlanta Dream Maya Caldwell Free Agency Atlanta Dream Grace Berger Draft Pick 2023 Draft Pick Aliyah Boston Draft Pick 2023 Draft Pick Victaria Saxton Draft Pick 2023 Draft Pick Amanda Zahui B Trade Washington Mystics
Subtractions PersonnelReasonNew team Danielle Robinson Trade Atlanta Dream Tiffany Mitchell Free Agency Minnesota Lynx Rennia Davis Waived - Khayla Pointer Waived - Emily Engstler Waived Minnesota Lynx Destanni Henderson Waived Los Angeles Sparks Queen Egbo Trade Washington Mystics
Roster
Depth Pos.StarterBench PG Erica Wheeler Kristy WallaceGrace Berger SG Kelsey Mitchell Maya Caldwell SF Lexie Hull Victoria Vivians PF NaLyssa Smith Emma CannonVictaria Saxton C Aliyah Boston Amanda Zahui B.
Schedule
Preseason
| 1 | May 7 | @ Chicago | L 56–81 | Kelsey Mitchell (9) | NaLyssa Smith (5) | Destanni Henderson (3) | Wintrust Arena2,024 | 0–1 |- | 2 | May 13 | Dallas | W 90–83 | Kelsey Mitchell (29) | Queen Egbo (9) | Erica Wheeler (9) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse2,084 | 1–1
Regular season
| 1 | May 19 | Connecticut | L 61–70 | Kelsey Mitchell (20) | BostonSmith (9) | Erica Wheeler (5) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse7,356 | 0–1 |- | 2 | May 21 | @ New York | L 73–90 | NaLyssa Smith (16) | NaLyssa Smith (12) | Kelsey Mitchell (3) | Barclays Center8,575 | 0–2 |- | 3 | May 28 | @ Atlanta | W 90–87 | NaLyssa Smith (23) | NaLyssa Smith (12) | Erica Wheeler (4) | Gateway Center Arena3,209 | 1–2 |- | 4 | May 30 | @ Connecticut | L 78–81 | Aliyah Boston (20) | NaLyssa Smith (15) | Erica Wheeler (7) | Mohegan Sun Arena5,317 | 1–3
| 5 | June 4 | Las Vegas | L 80–84 | Kelsey Mitchell (22) | Queen Egbo (10) | BergerVivians (4) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse6,131 | 1–4 |- | 6 | June 6 | @ Chicago | L 103–108 (OT) | Aliyah Boston (25) | Aliyah Boston (11) | Erica Wheeler (12) | Wintrust Arena5,201 | 1–5 |- | 7 | June 9 | @ Minnesota | W 71–69 | Kelsey Mitchell (22) | NaLyssa Smith (12) | Grace Berger (4) | Target Center8,510 | 2–5 |- | 8 | June 11 | Phoenix | L 82–85 | NaLyssa Smith (29) | NaLyssa Smith (12) | Erica Wheeler (8) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse5,013 | 2–6 |- | 9 | June 13 | Washington | W 87–66 | Aliyah Boston (23) | Aliyah Boston (14) | Aliyah Boston (6) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse3,005 | 3–6 |- | 10 | June 15 | @ Chicago | W 92–90 | Aliyah Boston (19) | BostonSmith (8) | Kelsey Mitchell (5) | Wintrust Arena6,323 | 4–6 |- | 11 | June 18 | Atlanta | L 94–100 | Aliyah Boston (25) | NaLyssa Smith (7) | Erica Wheeler (8) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse4,024 | 4–7 |- | 12 | June 22 | @ Seattle | W 80–68 | Kelsey Mitchell (25) | NaLyssa Smith (14) | BostonWallaceWheeler (5) | Climate Pledge Arena7,734 | 5–7 |- | 13 | June 24 | @ Las Vegas | L 88–101 | NaLyssa Smith (26) | NaLyssa Smith (11) | WallaceWheeler (6) | Michelob Ultra Arena8,310 | 5–8 |- | 14 | June 26 | @ Las Vegas | L 80–88 | BostonWheeler (20) | BostonSmith (14) | BostonWheeler (3) | Michelob Ultra Arena | 5–9 |- | 15 | June 29 | @ Phoenix | L 63–85 | Kelsey Mitchell (15) | BostonSmith (9) | BostonMitchellWheeler (4) | Footprint Center9,047 | 5–10
| 16 | July 2 | Chicago | L 87–89 | NaLyssa Smith (27) | NaLyssa Smith (8) | Kelsey Mitchell (8) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse4,004 | 5–11 |- | 17 | July 5 | @ Minnesota | L 83–90 | Aliyah Boston (22) | NaLyssa Smith (11) | Erica Wheeler (7) | Target Center7,624 | 5–12 |- | 18 | July 7 | @ Washington | L 88–96 | Lexie Hull (20) | BostonSmith (7) | Erica Wheeler (7) | Entertainment and Sports Arena4,200 | 5–13 |- | 19 | July 9 | Dallas | L 76–77 | Aliyah Boston (18) | Aliyah Boston (8) | Kelsey Mitchell (4) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse3,612 | 5–14 |- | 20 | July 12 | New York | L 87–95 (OT) | Aliyah Boston (23) | BostonVivians (9) | Erica Wheeler (5) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse6,123 | 5–15 |- | 21 | July 19 | Washington | W 82–76 | Kelsey Mitchell (18) | Aliyah Boston (8) | Kelsey Mitchell (5) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse14,406 | 6–15 |- | 22 | July 23 | @ New York | L 83–101 | Victoria Vivians (16) | CaldwellVivians (5) | Grace Berger (5) | Barclays Center7,371 | 6–16 |- | 23 | July 25 | @ Los Angeles | L 78–79 | Kelsey Mitchell (19) | ViviansZahui B. (6) | Erica Wheeler (8) | Crypto.com Arena5,565 | 6–17 |- | 24 | July 27 | @ Los Angeles | L 68–81 | Erica Wheeler (17) | Erica Wheeler (8) | Erica Wheeler (7) | Crypto.com Arena11,970 | 6–18 |- | 25 | July 30 | Seattle | L 62–85 | Kelsey Mitchell (19) | Aliyah Boston (7) | MitchellWheeler (5) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse5,196 | 6–19
| 26 | August 1 | Phoenix | W 72–71 | Emma Cannon (23) | Aliyah Boston (11) | Aliyah Boston (4) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse3,018 | 7–19 |- | 27 | August 4 | Connecticut | L 72–88 | Aliyah Boston (19) | Aliyah Boston (8) | BostonWheeler (4) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse3,498 | 7–20 |- | 28 | August 6 | @ Atlanta | L 73–82 | Aliyah Boston (25) | Aliyah Boston (10) | Erica Wheeler (5) | Gateway Center Arena3,209 | 7–21 |- | 29 | August 8 | Los Angeles | L 80–87 | Kelsey Mitchell (21) | Aliyah Boston (9) | Kristy Wallace (7) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse3,006 | 7–22 |- | 30 | August 10 | Minnesota | W 91–73 | Kelsey Mitchell (24) | Aliyah Boston (10) | Erica Wheeler (10) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse2,551 | 8–22 |- | 31 | August 13 | New York | L 89–100 | Kelsey Mitchell (22) | BostonSmith (9) | Aliyah Boston (5) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse5,019 | 8–23 |- | 32 | August 18 | Washington | L 79–83 | Emma Cannon (17) | Aliyah Boston (10) | Kelsey Mitchell (7) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse3,506 | 8–24 |- | 33 | August 20 | @ Phoenix | W 83–73 | Kelsey Mitchell (28) | NaLyssa Smith (11) | Grace Berger (5) | Footprint Center11,807 | 9–24 |- | 34 | August 24 | Seattle | W 90–86 | Kelsey Mitchell (36) | NaLyssa Smith (11) | Kristy Wallace (5) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse2,644 | 10–24 |- | 35 | August 27 | Atlanta | W 83–80 | Kristy Wallace (20) | NaLyssa Smith (13) | Kelsey Mitchell (6) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse4,034 | 11–24
| 36 | September 1 | Dallas | L 100–110 | Aliyah Boston (18) | BostonSmith (11) | Erica Wheeler (10) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse3,137 | 11–25 |- | 37 | September 3 | @ Dallas | W 97–84 (OT) | MitchellSmith (30) | Aliyah Boston (11) | Erica Wheeler (11) | College Park Center5,058 | 12–25 |- | 38 | September 5 | Chicago | L 69–96 | NaLyssa Smith (16) | NaLyssa Smith (7) | Grace Berger (6) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse2,450 | 12–26 |- | 39 | September 8 | @ Connecticut | L 59–76 | Kelsey Mitchell (15) | Aliyah Boston (7) | Erica Wheeler (3) | Mohegan Sun Arena5,064 | 12–27 |- | 40 | September 10 | Minnesota | W 87–72 | Kelsey Mitchell (24) | Aliyah Boston (12) | SmithWheeler (3) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse4,009 | 13–27
Standings
Statistics
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 Eastern Conference Player of the Week June 20 WNBA All-Star Starter June 25 Rookie of the Month - June July 5 Rookie of the Month - August September 6 WNBA Rookie of the Year October 2 WNBA All-Rookie Team Kelsey Mitchell WNBA All-Star July 1 Eastern Conference Player of the Week August 29
References
External links Official website of the Indiana Fever