Indiana Fever (18-12) at Minnesota Lynx (20-10)
Date: Friday, September 4, 2015
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Site: Target Center (Minneapolis, MN)
Radio: None
Television: None
Webcast: Live webcast and stats can be accessed via WNBA Live Access on FeverBasketball.com. (Webcasts during games televised on FOX Sports Indiana may not be available in local market areas due to blackout restrictions.)
Storylines & Promotion
- With Indiana’s 81-51 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday, the Fever set a new WNBA record by clinching a spot in the playoffs for the 11th consecutive season. The Seattle Storm held the previous mark with 10 consecutive playoff appearances from 2004-13
- Indiana also clinched its first winning record during the regular season for the first time since the 2012 campaign. If Indiana wins its remaining four games, the Fever would tie the franchise record for most wins in a season (22 in 2009, 2012).
- Stephanie White has now won more games this season than any first-year head coach in Fever franchise history. Lin Dunn went 17-17 in her first season as head coach in the 2008 season.
- To boost White’s resume for WNBA Coach of the Year, the Fever have featured nine different starting lineups this season, have entered only two games this season with all 12 players in uniform (July 28 at Connecticut and August 28 vs. Atlanta) and have never ended a game with all 12 players healthy.
- White is now two wins away from becoming the third rookie head coach in WNBA history to record at least 20 wins in his or her first year. Michael Cooper set the record with 28 wins during his first year as head coach of the Los Angeles Sparks in 2000.
- Indiana’s 30-point victory over Connecticut on Sunday marked the team’s largest win of the season and the eighth victory in franchise history by 30 or more points.
- Connecticut’s 15 first-half points marked the second-fewest points the Fever have allowed in a half in franchise history and the lowest total by an opponent in any half at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
- Tamika Catchings led the Fever in scoring for the third straight game with 13 points to go with six rebounds and a team-high three assists against the Sun.
- Rookie of the Year candidate Natalie Achonwa scored in double figures for the ninth time this season on Tuesday with 11 points in 13 minutes off the bench.
- Briann January’s status remains day-to-day after missing Tuesday’s game vs. the Sun with soreness in her back and left knee. She will not travel to Minnesota.
Probable Starters
Fever – F-Tamika Catchings, F-Marissa Coleman, C-Lynetta Kizer, G-Shenise Johnson, G-Layshia Clarendon
Lynx – F- Maya Moore, F- Rebekkah Brunson, C- Sylvia Fowles, G- Anna Cruz, G- Lindsay Whalen
Last Meeting
(June 6, 2015) After trailing by as many as 14 points in the second half, rookie Natalie Achonwa’s layup brought the Fever back within three points, 59-62, with 4:13 left in the game; but Minnesota made 12-of-14 free throw attempts in the final quarter to keep the game out of reach as the Lynx prevailed, 78-69, in Indiana’s home opener. The Lynx struggled from the field, shooting just 38 percent from the floor, but shot 26-for-31 from the foul line on the night and turned 13 offensive rebounds into 20 second-chance points to pace the offense. Playing without star forward Tamika Catchings for the second straight game with right knee soreness, Marissa Coleman led the Fever with 16 points. Achonwa made her first career start and added 14 points while Shenise Johnson pitched in 15 off the bench.
Last Games
Fever: (September 1, 2015) The Fever clinched their 11th consecutive playoff appearance, a new WNBA record, as they ran away with an 81-51 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday night. Indiana locked down on Connecticut from the start, holding the Sun to just 15 points in the first half – a new Bankers Life Fieldhouse record for fewest points allowed in a half. The 30-point victory marked the team’s largest win of the season and the eighth victory in franchise history by 30 or more points. Tamika Catchings led the Fever in scoring for the third consecutive game with 13 points, while Maggie Lucas and Natalie Achonwa chipped in 11 points apiece off the bench.
Lynx: (August 30, 2015) After shooting 30 percent from the field and trailing 48-50 after three quarters of play, the Minnesota Lynx outscored the Phoenix Mercury 23-11 in the fourth quarter to complete the comeback, 71-61, in a matchup between the Western Conference’s top two squads in Minneapolis. Maya Moore finished with a game-high 28 points to go with nine rebounds and five assists in the victory. Sylvia Fowles posted her fourth consecutive double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Series
After a 69-78 loss earlier this season, the Fever have now lost eight straight regular season meetings to Minnesota, including their last three trips to the Target Center. Indiana’s last regular season victory in the series came during a 78-75 win in Minneapolis on June 26, 2011. The Lynx lead the overall series 17-12, including an 8-6 record at home over the Fever.