Indiana Fever (6-6) vs Los Angeles Sparks (8-3)
Date: Saturday, June 24, 2017
Time: 7:00 p.m. (EDT)
Site: Bankers Life Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, IN)
TV: FOX Sports Indiana, NBATV
Live Stream: FOX Sports Go app, WNBA League Pass
Probable Starters
Fever: F- Marissa Coleman, F- Candice Dupree, C- Erlana Larkins, G- Shenise Johnson, G- Erica Wheeler
Sparks: F- Essence Carson, F- Nneka Ogwumike, C- Candace Parker, G- Alana Beard, G- Chelsea Gray
The Fever return to Bankers Life Fieldhouse and look to extend their winning streak to a season-long three games when they host the Los Angeles Sparks, Saturday night. Indiana is coming off of its first road win of the season, and hopes to build on its 5-1 home record. The Fever previously defeated the Sparks 93-90, at home on May 24.
A halftime ceremony will honor Fever legend Tamika Catchings by retiring her No. 24 jersey and raising it to the Bankers Life Fieldhouse rafters. Catchings retired as the holder of virtually all franchise records. She is the WNBA’s all-time leader in rebounds, steals and free throws, and the third-leading scorer.
Practice Report
Storylines & Promotion
• The Fever earned their first road win of the season while defeating the Chicago Sky 91-79 on June 18. Tiffany Mitchell led the Fever with a season-high 19 points, 14 of them in the second half. Candice Dupree shook off a slow start to finish with 18 points and eight rebounds — 16 in the second half. The Fever forced the Sky to commit 18 turnovers while coughing up the ball just four times.
• The Fever’s four turnovers were a franchise record, and the second-lowest total in WNBA history. The team also attempted 80 shots, the fifth-most ever in a single game in team history, and the most in a regulation contest.
• Briann January returned to action after missing the previous three games due to injury. She scored 10 points and dished seven assists off the bench.
• The Sparks beat the Phoenix Mercury 90-59 last Sunday for their fourth straight win. Nneka Ogwumike had 18 points and seven rebounds, and Candace Parker had 17 points and eight rebounds.
• The Fever bench has outscored the opposing team’s reserves in all 12 games.
• The Fever’s 87.2 percent free throw shooting is best in the WNBA and is on place for a club record. The team is 5-1 when they shoot more free throws than their opponent.
• The team is also fourth in the WNBA in field-goal percentage, shooting 44.9 percent.
• Fever free throw shooting is paced by Tiffany Mitchell who is first in the league with a mark of 97.6 percent. She has hit 40 in-a-row since May 20 against Connecticut, tying the second-longest streak in franchise history. She hit a team-record 42 consecutive free throws at the end of her rookie campaign. Shenise Johnson, last year’s WNBA free throw champion, is sixth, converting on 92 percent of her attempts.
• Erlana Larkins (1,113 rebounds) needs three rebounds to pass Ebony Hoffman (1,115) for second place in team history among career rebounders.
• Marissa Coleman needs four points to become the 11th player to reach 1,000 in a Fever career. She needs 56 points for 2,000 in her WNBA career.
• Coleman spent two seasons with the Sparks from 2012-13 before coming to Indiana. Fever guard Shenise Johnson and Sparks guard Riquna Williams were college teammates at Miami.
• All-Star voting is now open, and several Fever players are likely to receive votes. Dupree leads the Fever in scoring and rebounding with 14.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. Mitchell is averaging 12.2 points and 2.8 rebounds off the bench. Erica Wheeler is averaging 10.8 points and 3.3 assists per contest, and scored at least 15 points four of the last five games.
• The Fever are 11-22 against the Sparks all-time, but are an even 8-8 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Fever have won the past two home meetings after the Sparks won the previous four.
#24Forever Tribute Videos
Fever Film Room: Tamika Catchings & Chris Denari