Indiana Fever (0-0) vs Chicago Sky (0-0)

Date: Saturday, May 19, 2018
Time: 1:00 p.m. (EDT)
Site: Bankers Life Fieldhouse
TV: MyINDY-TV 23, NBA TV
Live Stream: WNBA League Pass (Free Trial!)

Probable Starters
Fever: F- Jazmon Gwathmey, F- Candice Dupree, C- Natalie Achonwa, G- Erica Wheeler, G- Tiffany Mitchell
Sky: F- Adut Bulgak, F- Gabby Williams, C- Stefanie Dolson, G- Kahleah Copper, G- Allie Quigley

The Indiana Fever open their 2018 season at home taking on the Chicago Sky. Rebounding from a tough 2017 season, Indiana and Chicago both hope to parlay top draft picks into a playoff appearance later this season. The Fever wrapped up the preseason 1-1, including a 79-65 win over the Sky; while the Sky went 0-3.

The Fever tip off their season with five games in eight days for the first time since 2014, with back-to-back games this weekend. Pokey Chatman and the Fever have elected to keep all three draft picks on this year’s roster. Indiana welcomes three top-14 draft picks — No. 2 Kelsey Mitchell, No. 8 Victoria Vivians and No. 14 Stephanie Mavunga — into the 2018 season and the Sky feature the No. 3 and No. 4 overall selections.

Storylines & Promotion

• This is the fifth time in franchise history the Fever have opened the season with back-to-back games, the last time being in 2015 at Chicago, and at home vs. Minnesota.

• The Fever are 11-7 all-time in season openers, losing last year’s opening game at Seattle 87-82. They are 8-3 all-time in season opening games at home.

• The Fever have three active draft picks securing their place on the 2018 roster alongside Belgian guard, rookie Hind Ben Abdelkader. It is the first time since 2002 that Indiana has had four rookies on its roster.

• Rookie guard and No. 2 draft selection Kelsey Mitchell is the club’s highest draft pick since Tan White was drafted out of Mississippi State in 2005. Ironically, Mississippi State also produced the Fever’s No. 8 pick this season, Victoria Vivians, who led the Bulldogs to the national championship game in the past two seasons.

• The Fever’s third draft pick, Stephanie Mavunga, is a former Indiana Miss Basketball (2013) who prepped locally at Brownsburg High School.

• Pokey Chatman begins her second season with Indiana after being with Chicago for six consecutive years. Chatman’s overall regular season record is 106-98 after a 9-25 record with Indiana last season.

• Indiana fell to the Washington Mystics in their final preseason contest 91-56. Rookie Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with nine points and four rebounds.

• Chicago lost to the Minnesota Lynx in their final preseason game 87-58. Stefanie Dolson led the Sky with 11 points and five rebounds.

• Fever guard Shenise Johnson starts the year rehabbing from a 2017 ACL injury and is not expected to return to action until later this season.