Indiana Fever vs Connecticut Sun
Friday, August 4, 2023
Gainbridge Fieldhouse | 7 p.m. ET
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Broadcast Information
ION
Pat Boylan (play-by-play), Kelsie Kasper (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter)

The Indiana Fever will take on the Connecticut Sun on Friday at 7 p.m. ET in Indianapolis following the Fever’s 72-71 home win against the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night.

After earning her ninth career start, veteran forward Emma Cannon was the leading scorer for the Fever in the win at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Tuesday as she notched a career-high 23 points. Cannon made a season-high eight field goals on 17 attempts while also pulling down a season-high nine rebounds.

All-Star guard Kelsey Mitchell followed behind with 21 points on 5-of-13 shooting from the floor and 10-of-11 shooting from the charity stripe. Fever guard Erica Wheeler chipped in 13 points, while All-Star center Aliyah Boston added six points, a team-high 11 rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocked shots.

The Fever continue to be led by All-Stars Mitchell and Boston, who are averaging 16.6 points and 14.1 points per game respectively. Boston has been consistently leading the league in field goal percentage shooting 58.9 percent (145-of-246) from the floor, while also leading all 2023 rookies in scoring average, rebounds (7.9 rpg) and blocked shots (1.2 bpg). In the win against Phoenix, Mitchell surpassed 1,000 made field goals in her career and joined Tamika Catchings as the only players in franchise history to convert 1,000 makes in a Fever uniform.

Indiana has played the 19-7 Connecticut Sun tough in both of the matchups between the teams this season. After being defeated in the regular season home opener on May 19, 70-61, the Fever then fell to the Sun in Connecticut, 81-78, on May 30. In the road matchup at Connecticut, Indiana was led by Boston’s 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the floor and Mitchell’s 19 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the floor. Forward NaLyssa Smith contributed a double-double with 14 points and 15 rebounds.

For Connecticut, the Sun’s four players in double-figure scoring on May 30 were led by Tiffany Hayes’ 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the court to go along with five rebounds and two steals. Brionna Jones, who is out for the remainder of the season with an injury, followed behind with 19 points and 11 rebounds.

The Sun are led in scoring by DeWanna Bonner this season averaging 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals per contest this season. Forward Alyssa Thomas, who has racked up five triple-doubles so far this season, recorded the first 20-point, 20-rebound and 10-assist triple-double in WNBA history against the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday. Thomas is averaging 14.8 points to go along with a team-high 10.2 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game. In addition, Hayes is averaging 11.6 points per contest.

Probable Starters

Indiana Fever (7-19)

Guard – Kelsey Mitchell (16.6 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 3.2 apg)
Guard – Erica Wheeler (9.9 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 5.0 apg)
Guard – Lexie Hull (5.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.11 spg)
Forward – Emma Cannon (6.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 0.5 apg)
Center – Aliyah Boston (14.1 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 1.2 spg)

Connecticut Sun (19-7)

Guard – Rebecca Allen (5.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.3 bpg)
Guard – Tiffany Hayes (11.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.8 apg)
Guard – Natisha Hiedeman (8.5 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 2.7 apg)
Forward – DeWanna Bonner (19.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.2 spg)
Forward – Alyssa Thomas (14.8 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 8.2 apg)

Game Status Report

Indiana: NaLyssa Smith – out (left foot stress fracture), Victoria Vivians – questionable (non-COVID illness)
Connecticut: TBA