Pohlen-Mavunga Signs Free Agent Deal to Return to Fever

INDIANAPOLIS — Veteran guard Jeanette Pohlen-Mavunga has signed a free agent contract to return to the Indiana Fever, it was announced today by Head Coach and General Manager Pokey Chatman.

Pohlen-Mavunga played a vital role for the Fever down the stretch in 2017, playing quality minutes in the absence of starters Shenise Johnson, Tiffany Mitchell and Briann January, who all succumbed to knee injuries and were lost for the season. Over the club’s last seven games, Pohlen-Mavunga averaged 7.6 points off the bench, while shooting 40 percent (8-of-20) from 3-point range. She reached double-figure scoring three times in those seven games, scoring 10+ points for the first time in four seasons.

A 6-0 guard who has played with Indiana since her rookie season in 2011, Pohlen-Mavunga appeared in 29 games last season, averaging 3.4 points per game overall and shooting 38.5 percent from distance. The former Stanford product has completed six WNBA seasons since being drafted by the Fever.

As a rookie, she led the WNBA in 3-point shooting percentage (.468), and helped Indiana to the WNBA title in 2012 despite succumbing to a torn left ACL in the Finals vs. Minnesota. She played briefly in 2013 and was preparing for a healthy 2014 when she tore her left Achillles’ tendon prior to training camp. After a healthy return, she has played the past three seasons with Indiana, including six playoff games and a trip to the WNBA Finals in 2015. She was married in July 2016 to former Indiana all-state basketball player Julian Mavunga, who plays professionally in Japan.