Indiana Fever vs Minnesota Lynx
Thursday, August 10, 2023
Gainbridge Fieldhouse | 7 p.m. ET
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Broadcast Information
Bally Sports Indiana
Pat Boylan (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst)

The Indiana Fever (7-22) return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Thursday night against the 14-15 Minnesota Lynx for the third of four matchups during the regular season. The series between the Lynx and the Fever this season is tied, 1-1, after two matchups in Minneapolis. The result of the first game came down to the final two minutes as Indiana defeated Minnesota in their first pairing, 71-69, on June 9. Minnesota came out on top in a 90-83 win to beat Indiana nearly a month later.

Indiana lost the last time out on Tuesday night to the Los Angeles Sparks, 87-80, in Indianapolis after a fourth quarter rally allowed the Sparks to defeat the Fever in the first game of the current four-game homestand. Indiana’s All-Stars, Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston, led the way with 21 and 18 points respectively on the night. Rookie guard Grace Berger contributed 14 points in the matchup and ended the night with career-highs in field goals made (6) and 3-point field goals made (2).

Mitchell has continued to climb the franchise and WNBA ranks this season, most recently moving into 25th place for most 3-point field goals made in WNBA history on Tuesday with 412 makes for her career. Mitchell currently ranks second in franchise history in points (2,913), made field goals (1,018) and 3-point field goals made. The sixth-year guard is shooting 36.9 percent (65-of-176) from beyond the arc this season, while scoring a team-leading 16.7 points per contest.

Boston broke yet another record in Tuesday’s matchup as she earned her 13th career game with at least 10 points on 60 percent shooting, which surpassed Brittney Griner’s 12 games in 2013 and set a new WNBA record for most such games by a rookie. Boston enters Thursday night’s matchup against Minnesota averaging 14.8 points per contest to go along with 8.0 rebounds.

Forward NaLyssa Smith will take to the floor again on Thursday night after returning from a nine-game absence last time out due to injury. After recording eight points and six rebounds on Tuesday, Smith is averaging 15.2 points and a team-leading 9.5 rebounds through her 20 games played this season. Veteran forward Emma Cannon, who has averaged 9.0 ppg through Indiana’s most recent four games, will also compete in her 100th game of her career the next time she takes the floor.

Indiana enters the matchup ranked second in the WNBA in offensive rebounds averaging 9.0 per game. Minnesota, however, only ranks eighth with 7.7 offensive rebounds per contest while also allowing the sixth-most offensive rebounds in the league per game. The Fever and Lynx hold similar field goal percentages as both teams shoot 43.9 percent and 43.5 percent from the floor on average.

The Lynx are led by WNBA All-Star Napheesa Collier, who is contributing 21.9 points per contest, good for a third-place ranking in the WNBA. Collier is supported by Kayla McBride’s 13.0 points per game and the 2023 No. 2 overall pick Diamond Miller’s 12.5 points per contest.

Probable Starters

Indiana Fever (7-22)

Guard – Kelsey Mitchell (16.7 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 3.0 apg)
Guard – Erica Wheeler (9.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 4.9 apg)
Guard – Lexie Hull (5.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.1 spg)
Forward – NaLyssa Smith (15.2 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 1.4 apg)
Center – Aliyah Boston (14.8 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.2 bpg)

Minnesota Lynx (14-15)

Guard – Lindsay Allen (6.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 4.5 apg)
Guard – Kayla McBride (13.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.3 spg)
Forward – Napheesa Collier (21.9 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.6 spg)
Forward – Diamond Miller (12.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.1 spg)
Forward – Dorka Juhász (6.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 2.0 apg)

Game Status Report

Indiana: No injuries
Minnesota: TBA