Indiana Fever vs Dallas Wings
Friday, September 1, 2023
Gainbridge Fieldhouse | 7 p.m. ET
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Broadcast Information
ION
Pat Boylan (play-by-play), Bria Goss (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter)

The Indiana Fever (11-24) will close out a three-game homestand at 7 p.m. ET on Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse taking on the Dallas Wings. Indiana fell to the Wings on July 9, 77-76, in the only meeting so far this regular season. Both teams will meet again in Arlington on Sunday afternoon.

Last time out in Indianapolis, the Fever defeated the Atlanta Dream, 83-80, on Sunday. The 12-point comeback victory allowed Indiana to claim its first three-game winning streak since 2021. Kristy Wallace notched 12 of her career-high 20 points on four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter of the matchup, including two made in the final 30 seconds of the game, to help the Fever secure the win. Wallace has averaged 7.8 points per contest through each of her six consecutive starts since August 10, while shooting 41.2 percent (33-of-80) from beyond the arc.

After contributing 14 points and a team-high six assists in the victory against the Dream, Kelsey Mitchell was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week on Tuesday. During August 18-27, Mitchell averaged 23.3 points and 4.8 assists per game, while shooting 47.7 percent (31-of-65) from the floor. The All-Star guard ranks in the top-15 in the league for scoring average (17.8 ppg) and three-point field goal percentage at 38.8 percent (85-of-219).

Fever forward NaLyssa Smith is adding 14.8 points per game and ranks third in the league in rebounds per game averaging 9.4 rebounds. Smith also enters the matchup two rebounds away from reaching the 500 rebound milestone through the first two years of her career.

All-Star rookie center Aliyah Boston is averaging 14.7 points per contest and is still shooting a league-leading 59.9 percent (202-of-343) from the floor, while consistently leading all rookies in rebounds (8.2 rpg), steals (1.3 spg) and blocked shots. With the help of Boston’s 1.4 blocks per game, Indiana ranks first in the league for points in the paint allowed with opponents averaging 31.4 points in the lane each game.

Guard Erica Wheeler is averaging 9.8 points this season while ranking eighth in the WNBA for assists averaging 4.9 per game. Rookie guard Grace Berger enters the matchup after contributing two consecutive double-figures scoring games while averaging 6.3 points and 2.3 assists per game through the second half of the season.

For the Wings (19-16), Dallas enters the matchup ranked fourth in the league standings and also coming off a 77-74 win against the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday. Arike Ogunbowale, who ranks fifth in the league for scoring average at 20.9 points per contest, led all scorers with 29 points. Natasha Howard is contributing an average of 16.4 points and 8.0 rebounds per game this season, followed by center Teaira McCowan’s 12.0 points and team-leading 9.1 rebounds per contest.

The Wings enter the matchup leading the league in offensive rebounds with an average of 12.0 per game, while Indiana trails behind in second averaging 9.0 offensive rebounds per game. Dallas averages a league-leading 38.7 total rebounds per game, however, Indiana allows the least number of rebounds in the WNBA with their opponents averaging 32.1 total rebounds.

Probable Starters

Indiana Fever (11-24)

Guard – Kelsey Mitchell (17.8 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 3.2 apg)
Guard – Erica Wheeler (9.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 4.9 apg)
Guard – Kristy Wallace (6.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.0 apg)
Forward – NaLyssa Smith (14.8 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 1.3 apg)
Center – Aliyah Boston (14.5 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.4 bpg)

Dallas Wings (19-16)

Guard – Crystal Dangerfield (8.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.1 apg)
Guard – Arike Ogunbowale (20.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.7 spg)
Forward – Natasha Howard (16.4 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.4 spg)
Forward – Awak Kuier (2.2 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 0.7 bpg)
Center – Teaira McCowan (12.0 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 1.0 bpg)

Game Status Report

Indiana: Aliyah Boston – questionable (right thumb), Lexie Hull – out (right shoulder)
Dallas: TBA