Indiana Fever vs Atlanta Dream
Sunday, June 18, 2023
Gainbridge Fieldhouse | 4 p.m. ET
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Broadcast Information
Fever Facebook/CBS Sports Network
Pat Boylan (play-by-play), Bria Goss (analyst)

The Indiana Fever return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET to take on the Atlanta Dream for the second time this season.

In the first matchup between the two teams on May 28, the Fever earned the first win of the regular season and the first win of Christie Sides’ head coaching career beating the Dream in Atlanta, 90-87. The Dream held a consistent lead from the start of the game through the middle of the third quarter. After 19 lead changes in the second half, the Fever gained its final advantage with four minutes remaining and held Atlanta to 4-of-14 shooting from the floor in the fourth quarter.

Fever forward NaLyssa Smith recorded her second double-double of the season during the first matchup as she led the team with 23 points and 12 rebounds. Smith was followed in the scoring column by five other Fever players who also scored in double-figures: Kelsey Mitchell (15), Aliyah Boston (13), Erica Wheeler (11), Kristy Wallace (10), and Queen Egbo (10).

The Dream were led in scoring by 2022 WNBA Rookie of the Year, Rhyne Howard, who recorded her still season-high 23 points. Howard enters the weekend averaging 16.4 points and 5.0 rebounds per game this season. Cheyenne Parker followed behind in scoring with 21 points and went 9-of-10 from the charity stripe, while Allisha Gray pitched in 19 points. Entering the matchup against Indiana, Gray has led the team in scoring four times this season, averaging a team-high 18.0 points per game, while Parker leads the team in rebounds at 8.0 per game.

Last time out for Indiana, the Fever defeated the Sky in Chicago, 92-90. Mitchell, who scored 13 of her 15 points in the second half, completed a midrange jumper that left 1.1 seconds on the clock and put the Fever ahead by two to seal the win. The Fever were led in scoring by Boston’s 19 points on the night, followed by Victoria Vivians’ season-high 17 points, as well as Mitchell and Smith’s 15 points each. Smith and Boston both pulled down eight rebounds individually.

The Boston-Smith-Mitchell combination shot 100 percent from the free throw line (17-of-17) against Chicago, which was only the fifth time in WNBA history and first time in franchise history that a trio of teammates have individually had at least 15 points and at least five made free throws on perfect shooting from the charity stripe, per Across the Timeline.

Smith has led the Fever in rebounding all season and enters the weekend as the fourth best rebounder in the WNBA this season averaging 9.7 rebounds per game.

Rookie sensation Aliyah Boston continues to make her presence known on the court and in the history books as she has consistently led all 2023 rookies this season in scoring average (15.1 ppg), rebounds (7.9 rpg), minutes played (28.9 mpg) and blocks (1.3 bpg), while also leading the league in field goal percentage at 66.3 percent (61-of-92).

Probable Starters

Indiana Fever (4-6)

Guard – Kelsey Mitchell (16.8 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 2.4 apg)
Guard – Erica Wheeler (8.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 5.0 apg)
Forward – NaLyssa Smith (14.3 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 1.6 apg)
Forward – Lexie Hull (4.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 0.7 apg)
Center – Aliyah Boston (15.1 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 2.3 apg)

Atlanta Dream (4-5)

Guard – Haley Jones (5.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.2 apg)
Guard – Allisha Gray (18.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.8 apg)
Forward – Rhyne Howard (16.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.2 apg)
Forward – Nia Coffey (4.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.78 bpg)
Center – Cheyenne Parker (15.9 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.8 apg)

Game Status Report

Indiana: None
Atlanta: TBA