2019 Indiana Fever season
{{Short description|20th season in the WNBA}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{WNBA season
| team = Indiana Fever
| year = 2019
| attendance = 5,887
| wins = 13
| losses = 21
| conf = Eastern
| conf_place = 4th
| coach = Pokey Chatman
| arena = Bankers Life Fieldhouse
| points = Kelsey Mitchell – 13.6 ppg
| rebounds = Teaira McCowan – 9.0 rpg
| assists = Erica Wheeler – 5.0 apg
| playoffs = Did not qualify
| television =Fox Sports Indiana, WNDY-TV, ESPN2, NBATV
}}
The 2019 WNBA season was the 20th season for the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association. The Fever opened the season on May 24, 2019 against the New York Liberty.{{cite web|url=https://fever.wnba.com/schedule/#?season=2019&seasontype=02|title=Indiana Fever WNBA Basketball - Schedule|publisher=Fever.wnba.com|accessdate=February 15, 2019}}
The Fever had a promising start to their season, winning three of their first four games. However, from there they lost eight of their next ten to finish June with a 5–9 record. July proved disastrous for any playoff hopes the team had. Six losses in the month were book-ended by two wins. One bright spot from July was that Erica Wheeler was named WNBA All-Star Game MVP. The Fever's form improved into August where they posted a 4–5 record. Winning their last two games proved too little too late, as they missed out on a playoff spot for the third straight year.
After the season, it was announced that General Manager and Head Coach Pokey Chatman would not return for the 2020 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.wnba.com/news/pokey-chatman-will-not-return-as-head-coach-general-manager/|title=Pokey Chatman Will Not Return As Head Coach & General Manager|website=WNBA.com|publisher=WNBA|date=September 9, 2019|accessdate=September 11, 2019}}
Transactions
=WNBA draft=
{{see also|2019 WNBA draft}}
The Fever made three selections in the 2019 WNBA draft, which was held on April 10:
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:60em"
! style="{{WNBA color cell|Indiana Fever}}" width="2%"| Round ! style="{{WNBA color cell|Indiana Fever}}" width="5%"| Pick ! style="{{WNBA color cell|Indiana Fever}}" width="10%"| Player ! style="{{WNBA color cell|Indiana Fever}}" width="10%"| Nationality ! style="{{WNBA color cell|Indiana Fever}}" width="10%"| School/Team/Country |
1
| 3 | {{USA}} |
3
| 25 | {{USA}} |
3
| 28 | {{USA}} | Georgia |
=Trades and roster changes=
Roster
{{sports roster
| team=Indiana Fever
| season = 2019
| style = WNBA
| players =
{{sports roster/entry | num = 11 | first = Natalie | last = Achonwa | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 3 | lbs = 190 | DOB = 11-22-1992 | yrs = 4 | college = Notre Dame | nat = CAN}}
{{sports roster/entry | num = 25 | first = Kennedy | last = Burke | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 1 | lbs = 182 | DOB = 08-16-1997 | yrs = R | college = UCLA | nat = USA}}
{{sports roster/entry | num = 4 | first = Candice | last = Dupree | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 2 | lbs = 178 | DOB = 02-25-1984 | yrs = 13 | college = Temple | nat = USA}}
{{sports roster/entry | num = 42 | first = Shenise | last = Johnson | pos = G | ft = 5 | in = 11 | lbs = 172 | DOB = 12-09-1990 | yrs = 6 | college = Miami (FL) | nat = USA }}
{{sports roster/entry | num = 7 | first = Paris | last = Kea | pos = G | ft = 5 | in = 9 | lbs = 142 | DOB = 04-07-1996 | yrs = R | college = North Carolina | nat = USA }}
{{sports roster/entry | num = 44 | first = Betnijah | last = Laney | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 0 | lbs = 160 | DOB = 10-29-1993 | yrs = 3 | college = Rutgers| nat = USA }}
{{sports roster/entry | num = 23 | first = Stephanie | last = Mavunga | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 3 | lbs = 205 | DOB = 02-24-1995 | yrs = 1 | college = Ohio State | nat = USA}}
{{sports roster/entry | num = 22 | first = Erica | last = McCall | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 2 | lbs = 184 | DOB = 08-21-1995 | yrs = 2 | college = Stanford | nat = USA}}
{{sports roster/entry | num = 15 | first = Teaira | last = McCowan | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 239 | DOB = 09-28-1996 | yrs = R | college = Mississippi State | nat = USA}}
{{sports roster/entry | num = 3 | first = Tiffany | last = Mitchell | link = Tiffany Mitchell (basketball) | pos = G | ft = 5 | in = 9 | lbs = 152 | DOB = 09-23-1994 | yrs = 4 | college = South Carolina | nat = USA}}
{{sports roster/entry | num = 0 | first = Kelsey | last = Mitchell |link = Kelsey Mitchell (basketball) | pos = G | ft = 5 | in = 11 | lbs = 151 | DOB = 11-12-1995 | yrs = 1 | college = Ohio State | nat = USA}}
{{sports roster/entry | num = 35 | first = Victoria | last = Vivians | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 1 | lbs = 183 | DOB = 11-17-1994 | yrs = 1 | college = Mississippi State | nat = USA}}
{{sports roster/entry | num = 17 | first = Erica | last = Wheeler | link = Erica Wheeler (basketball) | pos = G | ft = 5 | in = 7 | lbs = 143 | DOB = 05-02-1991 | yrs = 4 | college = Rutgers | nat = USA}}
| head_coach =
{{sports roster/entry|nat=USA| first = Pokey | last = Chatman| college = LSU}}
| asst_coach =
{{sports roster/entry|nat=USA| first = Christie | last = Sides | nolink = 1| college = LA Tech}}
| ath_train =
{{sports roster/entry|nat=USA| first = Todd | last = Champlin | nolink = 1| college = Daemen}}
| str_cond =
{{sports roster/entry|nat=USA| first = Chase | last = Campbell | nolink = 1| college = Ball State}}
}}
Schedule
=Preseason=
{{WNBA game log start|Indiana Fever|pre-season=yes|end_year=2019}}
{{WNBA game log section|Indiana Fever|May|first=yes|show=
| home_wins = 1
| home_losses = 0
| road_wins = 2
| road_losses = 0
}}
|- style="background:#bbffbb"
| 1
| May 14
| @ Chicago Sky
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20190514/INDCHI/ W 69–58]
| K. Mitchell (11)
| McCowan (8)
| K. Mitchell (4)
| Wintrust Arena
4,033
| 1–0
|- style="background:#bbffbb"
| 2
| May 16
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20190516/CHIIND/ W 76–65]
| T. Mitchell (15)
| Tied (7)
| Wheeler (8)
| Bankers Life Fieldhouse
3,794
| 2–0
|- style="background:#bbffbb"
| 3
| May 19
| @ Dallas Wings
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20190519/INDDAL/ W 71–66]
| K. Mitchell (26)
| McCowan (6)
| Johnson (6)
| College Park Center
3,428
| 3–0
{{WNBA game log end|IND|pre-season=yes|end_year=2019}}
=Regular season=
{{WNBA game log start|Indiana Fever|end_year=2019|note=
Total: 13–21 (Home: 7–10 Road: 6–11)}}
{{WNBA game log section|Indiana Fever|May|first=yes
| home_wins = 0
| home_losses = 0
| road_wins = 1
| road_losses = 1
}}
|- style="background:#bbffbb"
| 1
| May 24
| @ New York Liberty
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20190524/INDNYL/ W 81–80]
| T. Mitchell (22)
| Dupree (7)
| Wheeler (5)
| Westchester County Center
1,965
| 1–0
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 2
| May 28
| @ Connecticut Sun
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20190528/INDCON/ L 77–88]
| Wheeler (26)
| Dupree (8)
| Wheeler (9)
| Mohegan Sun Arena
4,781
| 1–1
{{WNBA game log section|Indiana Fever|June
| home_wins = 2
| home_losses = 4
| road_wins = 2
| road_losses = 4
}}
|- style="background:#bbffbb"
| 3
| June 1
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20190601/NYLIND/ W 92–77]
| K. Mitchell (23)
| McCowan (6)
| Wheeler (6)
| Bankers Life Fieldhouse
5,003
| 2–1
|- style="background:#bbffbb"
| 4
| June 7
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20190607/DALIND/ W 79–64]
| Achonwa (17)
| Tied (11)
| Wheeler (9)
| Bankers Life Fieldhouse
3,671
| 3–1
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 5
| June 9
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20190609/PHOIND/ L 87–94]
| K. Mitchell (26)
| Achonwa (7)
| K. Mitchell (6)
| Bankers Life Fieldhouse
3,336
| 3–2
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 6
| June 11
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20190611/SEAIND/ L 82–84]
| K. Mitchell (21)
| Dupree (15)
| K. Mitchell (7)
| Bankers Life Fieldhouse
3,506
| 3–3
|- style="background:#bbffbb"
| 7
| June 13
| @ Dallas Wings
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20190613/INDDAL/ W 76–72]
| Dupree (20)
| Laney (11)
| T. Mitchell (5)
| College Park Center
3,562
| 4–3
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 8
| June 15
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20190615/CHIIND/ L 64–70]
| K. Mitchell (16)
| T. Mitchell (8)
| Wheeler (8)
| Bankers Life Fieldhouse
4,715
| 4–4
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 9
| June 19
| @ Atlanta Dream
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20190619/INDATL/ L 78–88]
| Dupree (19)
| McCowan (14)
| Wheeler (5)
| State Farm Arena
6,474
| 4–5
|- style="background:#bbffbb"
| 10
| June 21
| @ Chicago Sky
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20190621/INDCHI/ W 76–69]
| Wheeler (28)
| McCowan (13)
| Wheeler (8)
| Wintrust Arena
4,945
| 5–5
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 11
| June 23
| @ Seattle Storm
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20190623/INDSEA/ L 61–65]
| Wheeler (18)
| McCowan (13)
| Wheeler (4)
| Alaska Airlines Arena
7,211
| 5–6
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 12
| June 25
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20190625/MININD/ L 74–78]
| K. Mitchell (17)
| 3 tied (7)
| Wheeler (4)
| Bankers Life Fieldhouse
4,692
| 5–7
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 13
| June 28
| @ Phoenix Mercury
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20190628/INDPHO/ L 69–91]
| Dupree (15)
| McCowan (10)
| Wheeler (3)
| Talking Stick Resort Arena
9,435
| 5–8
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 14
| June 29
| @ Las Vegas Aces
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20190629/INDLVA/ L 97–102 (OT)]
| K. Mitchell (21)
| Achonwa (9)
| Wheeler (8)
| Mandalay Bay Events Center
4,581
| 5–9
{{WNBA game log section|Indiana Fever|July
| home_wins = 1
| home_losses = 3
| road_wins = 1
| road_losses = 3
}}
|- style="background:#bbffbb"
| 15
| July 5
| @ Dallas Wings
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20190705/INDDAL/ W 76–58]
| T. Mitchell (16)
| McCowan (12)
| Wheeler (7)
| College Park Center
5,093
| 6–9
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 16
| July 10
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20190710/LVAIND/ L 71–74]
| Dupree (13)
| McCowan (12)
| Wheeler (7)
| Bankers Life Fieldhouse
9,247
| 6–10
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 17
| July 12
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20190712/LASIND/ L 84–90]
| Tied (11)
| 3 tied (5)
| K. Mitchell (5)
| Bankers Life Fieldhouse
7,849
| 6–11
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 18
| July 14
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20190714/CONIND/ L 63–76]
| K. Mitchell (14)
| McCowan (8)
| Tied (4)
| Bankers Life Fieldhouse
6,434
| 6–12
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 19
| July 19
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20190719/WASIND/ L 88–95 (OT)]
| Wheeler (18)
| Achonwa (12)
| Wheeler (5)
| Bankers Life Fieldhouse
6,726
| 6–13
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 20
| July 21
| @ Chicago Sky
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20190721/INDCHI/ L 70–78]
| Wheeler (13)
| McCowan (16)
| Wheeler (9)
| Wintrust Arena
6,614
| 6–14
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 21
| July 23
| @ Phoenix Mercury
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20190723/INDPHO/ L 77–95]
| Wheeler (18)
| McCowan (9)
| Wheeler (9)
| Talking Stick Resort Arena
8,528
| 6–15
|- style="background:#bbffbb"
| 22
| July 31
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20190731/ATLIND/ W 61–59]
| Wheeler (15)
| McCowan (14)
| K. Mitchell (4)
| Bankers Life Fieldhouse
5,702
| 7–15
{{WNBA game log section|Indiana Fever|August
| home_wins = 3
| home_losses = 2
| road_wins = 1
| road_losses = 3
}}
|- style="background:#bbffbb"
| 23
| August 3
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20190803/MININD/ W 86–75]
| K. Mitchell (20)
| McCowan (8)
| K. Mitchell (9)
| Bankers Life Fieldhouse
7,884
| 8–15
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 24
| August 8
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20190808/INDWAS/ L 78–91]
| K. Mitchell (18)
| Mavunga (6)
| K. Mitchell (6)
| St. Elizabeth's East Arena
3,013
| 8–16
|- style="background:#bbffbb"
| 25
| August 10
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20190810/ATLIND/ W 87–82]
| Wheeler (19)
| Dupree (9)
| Wheeler (7)
| Bankers Life Fieldhouse
7,923
| 9–16
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 26
| August 18
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20190818/INDWAS/ L 68–107]
| T. Mitchell (17)
| McCowan (10)
| Achonwa (5)
| St. Elizabeth's East Arena
4,034
| 9–17
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 27
| August 20
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20190820/NYLIND/ L 76–82]
| McCowan (24)
| McCowan (8)
| Tied (5)
| Bankers Life Fieldhouse
5,340
| 9–18
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 28
| August 22
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20190822/INDLAS/ L 65–98]
| K. Mitchell (14)
| McCowan (7)
| Wheeler (6)
| Staples Center
8,816
| 9–19
|- style="background:#bbffbb"
| 29
| August 25
| @ Seattle Storm
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20190825/INDSEA/ W 63–54]
| McCowan (22)
| McCowan (19)
| Tied (3)
| Alaska Airlines Arena
8,076
| 10–19
|- style="background:#bbffbb"
| 30
| August 27
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20190827/LVAIND/ W 86–71]
| McCowan (24)
| McCowan (17)
| 4 tied (4)
| Bankers Life Fieldhouse
6,958
| 11–19
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 31
| August 29
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20190829/LASIND/ L 83–87]
| McCowan (24)
| McCowan (10)
| K. Mitchell (5)
| Bankers Life Fieldhouse
5,641
| 11–20
{{WNBA game log section|Indiana Fever|September
| home_wins = 1
| home_losses = 0
| road_wins = 1
| road_losses = 1
}}
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 32
| September 1
| @ Minnesota Lynx
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20190901/INDMIN/ L 73–81]
| Dupree (18)
| McCowan (11)
| T. Mitchell (6)
| Target Center
8,833
| 11–21
|- style="background:#bbffbb"
| 33
| September 6
| @ New York Liberty
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20190906/INDNYL/ W 86–81]
| K. Mitchell (22)
| McCowan (13)
| Wheeler (6)
| Westchester County Center
2,301
| 12–21
|- style="background:#bbffbb"
| 34
| September 8
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20190908/CONIND/ W 104–76]
| K. Mitchell (38)
| McCowan (9)
| Laney (7)
| Bankers Life Fieldhouse
5,451
| 13–21
{{WNBA game log end|IND|end_year=2019}}
=Standings=
{{2019 WNBA Eastern Conference standings|team=IND}}
Awards and honors
class="wikitable sortable sortable" style="text-align: center"
! style="{{NBA color cell|Indiana Fever}}" width="5%" | Recipient ! style="{{NBA color cell|Indiana Fever}}" width="9%" | Award ! style="{{NBA color cell|Indiana Fever}}" width="5%" | Date awarded ! style="{{NBA color cell|Indiana Fever}}" width="1%" class="unsortable" | Ref. |
Candice Dupree
| rowspan=2 | WNBA All-Star Selection | rowspan=2 |July 15, 2019 |
Erica Wheeler |
Teaira McCowan
| September 16, 2019 |
Statistics
{{WNBA roster statistics legend}}
=Regular season=
class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |
style={{WNBA color cell|Indiana Fever}} width="16%" | Player
! style={{WNBA color cell|Indiana Fever}} width="6%" | GP ! style={{WNBA color cell|Indiana Fever}} width="6%" | GS ! style={{WNBA color cell|Indiana Fever}} width="6%" | MPG ! style={{WNBA color cell|Indiana Fever}} width="6%" | FG% ! style={{WNBA color cell|Indiana Fever}} width="6%" | 3P% ! style={{WNBA color cell|Indiana Fever}} width="6%" | FT% ! style={{WNBA color cell|Indiana Fever}} width="6%" | RPG ! style={{WNBA color cell|Indiana Fever}} width="5%" | APG ! style={{WNBA color cell|Indiana Fever}} width="6%" | SPG ! style={{WNBA color cell|Indiana Fever}} width="6%" | BPG ! style={{WNBA color cell|Indiana Fever}} width="6%" | PPG |
---|
Kelsey Mitchell
| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 34 | 20 | 25.1 | 38.7 | 37.4 | 83.6 | 1.6 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 0.1 | style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 13.6 |
Candice Dupree
| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 34 | style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 34 | style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 30.7 | 47.2 | 0 | 83.9 | 5.0 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 11.6 |
Erica Wheeler
| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 34 | style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 34 | 25.0 | 42.8 | 38.4 | 87.2 | 3.0 | style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 5.0 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 10.1 |
Teaira McCowan
| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 34 | 16 | 22.1 | style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 51.7 | 0 | 68.7 | style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 9.0 | 0.2 | 0.6 | style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 1.3 | 10.0 |
Tiffany Mitchell
| 33 | 14 | 25.2 | 38.1 | 29.0 | 89.2 | 2.8 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 9.7 |
Natalie Achonwa
| 30 | 18 | 21.1 | 48.8 | 25.0 | 90.9 | 5.2 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 8.7 |
Betnijah Laney
| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 34 | 27 | 25.8 | 36.2 | 30.3 | 58.1 | 4.2 | 1.7 | style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 1.4 | 0.1 | 5.6 |
Shenise Johnson
| 17 | 0 | 12.9 | 33.3 | 24.2 | 93.8 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 12.9 |
Kennedy Burke
| 31 | 7 | 13.6 | 38.5 | 35.0 | 70.5 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 4.4 |
Paris Kea
| 11 | 0 | 5.5 | 40.7 | style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 55.6 | 50.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 2.6 |
Stephanie Mavunga
| 24 | 0 | 8.5 | 51.1 | 0 | 70.6 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 2.5 |
Erica McCall
| 15 | 0 | 6.9 | 13.6 | 0 | style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 100 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.9 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://fever.wnba.com/ The Official Site of the Indiana Fever]
{{Indiana Fever navbox}}
{{2019 WNBA season by team}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Indiana Fever Season}}