Game Preview: Fever Welcome Storm for Bird and January’s Final Regular Season Game at Indiana

Tue, Jul 5, 2022, 5:10 PM

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Indiana vs. Seattle

July 5, 2022

Indiana Farmers Coliseum | 7:00 p.m. ET

 

The Indiana Fever battle the Seattle Storm on Tuesday night for the second time in five days, this time at Indiana Farmers Coliseum. It will be the final regular-season game in Indiana for Seattle guards Sue Bird and Briann January.

Bird will call it a career after her 18th season in the WNBA and will leave the court as the league’s all-time assist leader and winningest player in WNBA history.

January, who was drafted by the Fever in 2009 and played her first nine seasons in Indiana, is considered the most prolific point guard in Fever franchise history. She was a pivotal member of the 2012 championship team and ranks top-five in several major regular season and playoff statistical categories such as total points, assists, steals, and three-pointers made.

In the first game of the season series between Indiana and Seattle on July 1, the Storm emerged with the 73-57 win. Seattle was led by forward Breanna Stewart’s 20 points. Center Ezi Magbegor added 11 points and forward Gabby Williams had 10 points.

For Indiana, rookie center Queen Egbo had her second double-double of her career, scoring a career-high 14 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Fellow rookies NaLyssa Smith added nine points and Lexie Hull finished with four points and five rebounds in her first career start.

 

Injury Report

Fever- Queen Egbo – OUT (Health and Safety Protocols), Lexie Hull – QUESTIONABLE (Right Wrist), Victoria Vivians – QUESTIONABLE (Right Shoulder)

Storm- Mercedes Russell – OUT (Non-Basketball Injury)

 

Probable Starters

Indiana Fever (5-17)

F – Victoria Vivians (11.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 27.9 mpg)

F – NaLyssa Smith (12.8 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 30.1 mpg)

F – Emma Cannon (5.4 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 9.1 mpg)

G – Kelsey Mitchell (18.5 ppg, 4.0 apg, 32.6 mpg)

G – Danielle Robinson (7.4 ppg, 3.8 apg, 23.4 mpg)

Seattle Storm (13-8)

F – Breanna Stewart (21.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 31.1 mpg)

F – Gabby Williams (6.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 25.9 mpg)

C – Ezi Macbegor (11.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 29.2 mpg)

G – Jewell Loyd (16.0 ppg, 3.8 apg, 30.4 mpg)

G – Sue Bird (8.7 ppg, 5.9 apg, 26.3 mpg)

 

Broadcast Information

Indiana Fever Facebook Page

Pat Boylan (play-by-play), Bria Goss (analyst)