Indiana Fever vs Minnesota Lynx
Sunday, September 10, 2023
Gainbridge Fieldhouse | 1 p.m. ET
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Broadcast Information
Bally Sports Indiana
Pat Boylan (play-by-play), Bria Goss (analyst)
The Indiana Fever conclude the regular season at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday afternoon taking on the Minnesota Lynx. The Fever are 2-1 against the Lynx this season after defeating Minnesota on June 9, 71-69, and on August 10, 91-73. A win on Sunday for the Fever would give Indiana three wins in the same regular season against Minnesota for the first time in franchise history.
In the most recent matchup between the two teams, the Fever were led by Kelsey Mitchell’s 24 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the floor. Erica Wheeler netted a double-double of 17 points and 10 assists, while Aliyah Boston added 15 points and 13 rebounds in the double-double of her own. Kristy Wallace and NaLyssa Smith rounded out the five Fever players in double-figure scoring with 13 and 12 points respectively.
Mitchell is ending the season strong as she has averaged 22.6 points per game in the last seven games, which includes her two 30-point games against Seattle and Dallas. The WNBA All-Star guard ranks 10th in the league in scoring average (18.1 ppg) and 12th in 3-point field goal percentage averaging 39.8 percent from beyond the arc this season. Mitchell has recorded seven 25+ point games this season and needs one more game to set a franchise record for most 25+ point games in a regular season.
Smith is also ending the season on a high note after averaging 18.1 points per contest through the last seven games as well, while ranking fourth in the league in rebounds averaging 9.1 rebounds per game. In addition, Smith has recorded 12 double-doubles this season, putting her just one double-double away from breaking a franchise record for most double-doubles in a single season.
Boston is the frontrunner for the WNBA Rookie of the Year award as she has consistently led the league in field goal percentage shooting 57.4 percent (224-of-390) while leading all 2023 rookies in scoring average (14.3 ppg), rebounds (8.3 rpg), steals (1.3 spg), blocks (1.3 bpg) and minutes played (31.1 mpg). Boston could become the first rookie in WNBA history to lead the league in field goal percentage if she ends Sunday atop the leaderboard. Boston has already set franchise records for field goals made and shots blocked in a rookie season, in addition to most rebounds in a single season in Fever history, Boston enters Sunday 36 points away from surpassing Tamika Catchings’ 594 points in 2002 and setting a franchise record for most points in a rookie year.
Veteran forward Emma Cannon and rookie guard Grace Berger have added significant minutes off the bench as of late and have averaged 6.0 points and 4.1 points this season respectively. Berger currently leads all 2023 rookies in 3-point shooting percentage at 45.5 percent (15-of-33) from the floor.
The Lynx are guided by All-Star Napheesa Collier, who has been leading the team averaging a league fourth-best 21.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.2 blocks per contest this season. On August 10, the Fever held Collier scoreless in the first half while she ended the night tying a season-low eight points. Kayla McBride is adding an average of 14.0 points and 1.2 steals per game this season. Rookie Diamond Miller, who followed behind Boston as the No. 2 pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft, is averaging 12.1 points per game to go along with 3.6 rebounds.
Probable Starters
Indiana Fever (12-27)
Guard – Kelsey Mitchell (18.1 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 3.2 apg)
Guard – Erica Wheeler (9.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 5.1 apg)
Forward – Victoria Vivians (5.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.3 apg)
Forward – NaLyssa Smith (15.4 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 1.4 apg)
Center – Aliyah Boston (14.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.3 bpg)
Minnesota Lynx (19-20)
Guard – Kayla McBride (14.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.2 spg)
Guard – Tiffany Mitchell (7.4 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.3 apg)
Forward – Napheesa Collier (21.5 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 1.7 spg)
Forward – Diamond Miller (12.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.5 apg)
Forward – Dorka Juhasz (6.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.6 apg)
Game Status Report
Indiana: Lexie Hull – out (right shoulder), Kristy Wallace – out (right knee)
Minnesota: TBA