Indiana Fever at Minnesota Lynx
WNBA Finals, Game 1
Date: Sunday, October 4, 2015
Time: 3:00 p.m. (EDT)
Site: Target Center (Minneapolis, MN)
Television: ABC
Radio: WIBC 93.1 FM
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
- After falling in Game 1 of both of their playoff series, the Indiana Fever rallied to earn their third appearance in the WNBA Finals in franchise history – all since 2009.
- In addition to Indiana winning three of the last seven Eastern Conference titles, it has been more than a decade since a current Eastern Conference team besides Indiana has won a game in the WNBA Finals. The last game won by another current East team was Sept. 15, 2005 when Connecticut beat Sacramento in Game 2 of the 2005 Finals.
- The Fever are now 8-2 in their last 10 playoff elimination games, including a 4-0 mark this postseason. Overall, Indiana is 15-9 all-time in elimination contests, including a 10-2 record at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
- Stephanie White became the first rookie head coach to reach the WNBA Finals. The last time any first-year WNBA head coach reached the WNBA Finals was Richie Adubato (New York, 1999), who spent several years as an NBA head coach.
- At 36 years old, Tamika Catchings is averaging 19.7 points per game in the playoffs, her second-highest scoring average in her playoff career and sixth among all players this postseason.
- Erlana Larkins ranks first among all WNBA players this postseason in field goal percentage at 62.2 percent from the field. For her career, Larkins is shooting 54.9 percent from the field in the playoffs, ranking fourth all-time in WNBA postseason history.
- In both decisive Game 3 wins in the playoffs, Marissa Coleman has tied the Fever franchise record with a career high five three-point field goals. She shot 5-for-7 from long distance in both pivotal road victories to help Indiana advance. Coleman is tied with Minnesota forward Maya Moore for the league lead in three-point field goals made with 14 this postseason.
- The Fever need only one victory to tie the Los Angeles Sparks (34) for the most playoff victories in WNBA history.
Probable Starters
Fever – F-Marissa Coleman, F-Tamika Catchings, C-Erlana Larkins, G-Shenise Johnson, G-Briann January
Lynx – F- Maya Moore, F- Rebekkah Brunson, C- Sylvia Fowles, G- Seimone Augustus, G- Lindsay Whalen
Revisiting the 2012 WNBA Finals
Much like this season’s run to the WNBA Finals, the 2012 Fever reached the WNBA Finals after facing elimination in each of the first two rounds. Indiana survived in three-game series in the Eastern Semis against the Atlanta Dream, and again in the Eastern Finals over the Connecticut Sun. The Fever would eventually defeat the Western Conference champ Minnesota Lynx in four games. In the 2012 Finals, the Fever shocked the defending champions by winning Game 1 on the road at the Target Center, 76-70. As the series shifted back to Indianapolis tied 1-1, the Fever defended their home floor and won Games 3 and 4 to capture the franchise’s first WNBA title. Photo Gallery »»
Five players from the 2012 championship season are making a return trip to the Finals this season, including starters Tamika Catchings, Erlana Larkins and Briann January. Key reserve Shavonte Zellous makes her second appearance in the Finals, while Jeanette Pohlen was also a member of the 2012 championship squad.
Series
The Lynx swept the two regular season meetings with the Fever this season, including 16-point victory at the Target Center on Sept. 4. The Fever have lost nine consecutive regular season games to the Lynx and have dropped nine regular season road games in a row at Minnesota. However, Indiana was able to steal a Game 1 victory in the 2012 WNBA Finals on their way to winning the series, 3-1.