For the first of nine home games located at Indiana Farmers Coliseum, the Indiana Fever will take on the Los Angeles Sparks at 7 p.m. ET on Friday. This will be the second of three matchups this season against the Sparks and the third game for the Fever against a Western Conference opponent. The Sparks took the first matchup this season against the Fever after winning 87-77 back on May 8 and own a 34-13 all-time record against Indiana.

Friday will be the beginning of a new era as Carlos Knox serves as Interim Head Coach after the team announced earlier this week Marianne Stanley would no longer hold the head coaching position. The former Fever Player Development Coach from 2014-16, Knox also played with the Indiana Pacers during the 1998-99 season, as well as eight years in Croatia, Germany, Venezuela, and Italy. The Dayton, Ohio native brings two decades worth of coaching experience, which most recently included serving as an assistant coach on the University of Cincinnati women’s basketball staff for two seasons before joining the Fever staff.

Knox will coach his first WNBA game in the arena home to his alma mater as well. While playing at IUPUI from 1994-98, Knox became the most prolific men’s basketball player in IUPUI history. He earned multiple All-American honors; led the country in scoring twice; and owns all major program scoring records, as well as career records in steals, 3-point field goals attempted, free throws made and free throws attempted. His No. 34 jersey was retired on his final collegiate game.

Knox returned to his alma mater ahead of the 2001-02 season for his first coaching stint as an assistant men’s basketball coach.

The Fever enter Friday looking to snap a five-game skid, most recently a 95-90 loss to the defending champion Chicago Sky. Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell scored 15 of her 25 total points in the fourth quarter and recorded her 39th career game with 20 or more points. Forward Emily Engstler logged her first career double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds. Three other players — Victoria Vivians, Destanni Henderson, and Queen Egbo — scored in double digits.

For LA, the Sparks were able to end a five-game losing streak of their own with a 99-94 win at home against the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday. Nneka Ogwumike and Liz Cambage led the way, with Ogwumike pouring in 23 points and six rebounds, while Cambage added 21 points and seven rebounds. LA also received help from their bench with 21 points, compared to Phoenix’s seven bench points.

Indiana will welcome the Washington Mystics to Indiana Farmers Coliseum on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET. Tickets for the game can still be purchased by visiting FeverBasketball.com and the game will also be streamed on the official Indiana Fever Facebook page in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio.

Injury Report 
Fever: NaLyssa Smith – questionable (right ankle), Bria Hartley – out (left hamstring)
Sparks: TBD

Broadcast Information
Livestream: Indiana Fever Facebook Page, Twitter
Pat Boylan (play-by-play), Bria Goss (analyst)