In 2009, the Indiana Fever selected a 5-foot-8 point guard from Arizona State University with the sixth overall pick. At the time, 22-year-old Briann January was just eager to finally realize her life-long dream of playing in the WNBA. Fast forward 13 years, January is now a veteran on the Seattle Storm — playing in her last WNBA regular season. Looking back on the decorated career she has had, January never dreamt of making it to these heights.
“No, no no no no,” January said when asked if her younger self believed she would have this successful of a professional career. “I did believe in myself and my ability, but in my wildest dreams, I couldn’t have written a story like this.”
January’s story though required hard work early in her career. The Spokane, Washington native had some struggles when she first got to Indianapolis to play for then-head coach Lin Dunn and the Fever. January remembers being on the verge of tears when Dunn would be demanding of the newest first-round selection to take the court for Indiana. Nevertheless, January still learned how to be a professional from Dunn, along with coaches such as current Fever assistant coach Gary Kloppenburg, Stephanie White and veteran teammates Tamika Catchings, Katie Douglas and Tammy Sutton-Brown.
“I was really set up for success,” January said. “I just learned, I soaked it all in, and really have taken that with me throughout my entire career.”
January would continue to grow and shine in her role with her numbers improving each of her first two seasons. January made her way consistently into the starting lineup in 2011 and started putting up career-highs early in the season. In the tenth game of the season, however, she would go down with a season-ending ACL injury.
It would take a full year of rehabilitation before January returned. When she did, January returned to her role as starting point guard and played a pivotal part in bringing Indiana a WNBA championship in 2012. In the WNBA Finals series against Minnesota, January averaged 10.0 ppg and 3.8 apg.
“I was proud of myself for where I was at the beginning of the year and helping lead that team to a championship. There were a few different layers that made that year very special for me,” January said.
The aforementioned remaining layers was the bond the 2012 Fever rosters shares, even to this day.
“I say it was one of the best teams [I’ve ever played for] because not only did we have the connection on the court, but off the court as well,” January said. “Those are still to this day some of my closest friends.”
That friendship shined on the court once again when the 2012 championship team returned to Indianapolis on May 22 for the 10-year anniversary. January, the only member of that Fever team still playing in the WNBA, flew from Seattle to celebrate during the season.
“It meant everything to get that team back together,” January said. “We hadn’t been together since we won it and we picked up right where we left off. We just had an amazing group that is one of those truly special teams.”
Including the WNBA title, January’s storied career has seen her compile several accolades while in Indiana. Three trips to the WNBA Finals with a championship ring, an All-Star appearance in 2014 and six All-Defensive teams highlight the top of the list. January is one of four players to lead the league in three-point percentage more than once (2015 and 2017) and among career statistics within the Fever franchise, she sits in the top-10 in nearly every major category.
Now, January will return to Indiana tonight one more time to face the Fever. Even after the game and after this season, she still plans to be a part of the game.
“I am going to get into coaching,” January said. “I really am looking forward to impacting the game from a coaching perspective, helping young women achieve their goals and hopefully have a career as fulfilling as mine.”
No matter if she is on the court, whether in Indianapolis or in Seattle, January has proven she will always have a home in Indiana.