2020 Indiana Fever season

{{Short description|21st season in the WNBA}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{WNBA season

| team = Indiana Fever

| year = 2020

| attendance = 0

| wins = 6

| losses = 16

| conf = Eastern

| conf_place = 5

| coach = Marianne Stanley

| arena = Originally: Hinkle Fieldhouse
Rescheduled to: IMG Academy gymnasiums, Bradenton, Florida

| points = Kelsey Mitchell – 17.9 ppg

| rebounds = Teaira McCowan – 7.3 rpg

| assists = Julie Allemand – 5.8 apg

| playoffs = Did not qualify

| television =

}}

The 2020 Indiana Fever season was the franchise's 21st season in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The regular season tipped off on July 25, 2020, versus the Washington Mystics.{{Cite web|url=https://fever.wnba.com/schedule/#?season=2020&seasontype=01|title=2020 Indiana Fever Scheudle|website=WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA|language=en|access-date=2020-02-13}}

During the off-season the Fever announced that head coach Pokey Chatman would not return for the 2020 season. Chatman was replaced by Marianne Stanley. This will be Stanley's first head coaching job in the WNBA. She was previously an assistant with the Washington Mystics, Los Angeles Sparks, and New York Liberty.{{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|date=September 9, 2019|website=WNBA.com|publisher=WNBA|accessdate=September 11, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.wnba.com/news/indiana-fever-announce-marianne-stanley-as-new-head-coach/|title=Indiana Fever Announce Marianne Stanley As New Head Coach|last=|first=|date=2019-11-26|website=WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191128194135/https://www.wnba.com/news/indiana-fever-announce-marianne-stanley-as-new-head-coach/ |archive-date=2019-11-28 |access-date=2020-01-21}}

Also, it was announced that the Bankers Life Fieldhouse would undergo renovations, which would force the Fever to host home games at the Hinkle Fieldhouse for the 2020 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/basketball/wnba/fever/2019/06/24/bankers-life-fieldhouse-renovations-force-indiana-fever-relocate-outdoor-plaza-ice-skating/1528316001/|title=Bankers Life Fieldhouse will gain outdoor plaza with skating, lose Fever for two seasons|work=Indy Star|first=Robby|last=General|date=June 24, 2019|accessdate=February 13, 2020}}

This WNBA season will feature an all-time high 36 regular-season games.{{cite web|url=https://dream.wnba.com/news/atlanta-dream-announce-2020-schedule/|title=Atlanta Dream Announce 2020 Schedule - Atlanta Dream|website=dream.wnba.com|accessdate=February 1, 2020}} However, the plan for expanded games was put on hold on April 3, when the WNBA postponed its season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite news|date=2020-04-03|title=WNBA Statement Regarding the Start of the 2020 Regular Season|url=https://www.wnba.com/news/wnba-statement-regarding-the-start-of-the-2020-regular-season/|access-date=2020-04-03}} Under a plan approved on June 15, the league is scheduled to hold a shortened 22-game regular season at IMG Academy, without fans present, starting on July 24.{{Cite web|date=2020-06-15|title=WNBA Announces Plan To Tip Off 2020 Season|url=https://www.wnba.com/news/wnba-announces-plan-to-tip-off-2020-season/|access-date=2020-06-17|website=WNBA|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2020-06-15|title=WNBA announces plans for 2020 season to start late July in Florida|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/mystics/wnba-announces-plans-2020-season-start-late-july-florida|access-date=2020-06-15|website=NBC Sports Washington}}

The Fever started the season in a back-and-forth manner. The Fever went 2–2 in their first four games, alternating wins and losses. The season took a downward turn as the Fever lost five of their next seven games to be 4–7 at the halfway mark of the season. The second half started with a win but was marred by an eight-game losing streak. The Fever won the next to last game and lost on the final day of the season to finish 6–16. Their .273 winning percentages was the third worst in franchise history.

Transactions

= WNBA draft =

{{see also|2020 WNBA draft}}The Fever will make the following selections in the 2020 WNBA draft.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:60em"

! width="2%" style="{{NBA color cell|Indiana Fever}}" |Round

! width="5%" style="{{NBA color cell|Indiana Fever}}" |Pick

! width="10%" style="{{NBA color cell|Indiana Fever}}" |Player

! width="10%" style="{{NBA color cell|Indiana Fever}}" |Nationality

! width="10%" style="{{NBA color cell|Indiana Fever}}" |School/Team/Country

1

| 3

| Lauren Cox

| {{USA}}

| Baylor

2

| 14

| Kathleen Doyle

| {{USA}}

| Iowa

3

| 28

| Kamiah Smalls

| {{USA}}

| James Madison

=Trades and roster changes=

class="wikitable" style="width:80%; text-align: center;"

! style="{{WNBA color cell|Indiana Fever}}" width=125" |Date

! style="{{WNBA color cell|Indiana Fever}}" colspan="2" |Details

February 13, 2020

| Re-signed G Tiffany Mitchell{{cite web|url=https://fever.wnba.com/news/tiffany-mitchell-returns-to-the-fever/|title=Tiffany Mitchell Returns to the Fever|website=fever.wnba.com|publisher=WNBA|date=February 13, 2020|accessdate=February 19, 2020}}

February 13, 2020

| Re-signed F Betnijah Laney{{cite web|url=https://fever.wnba.com/news/fever-re-sign-betnijah-laney/|title=Fever Re-Sign Betnijah Laney|website=fever.wnba.com|publisher=WNBA|date=February 14, 2020|accessdate=February 19, 2020}}

February 19, 2020

| Signed C Bernadett Határ{{cite web|url=https://fever.wnba.com/news/fever-sign-bernadett-hatar/|title=Fever Sign 6-10 Hungarian Center Bernadett Határ|website=fever.wnba.com|publisher=WNBA|date=February 19, 2020|accessdate=February 19, 2020}}

March 2, 2020

| Signed G Julie Allemand{{cite web|url=https://fever.wnba.com/news/indiana-fever-sign-julie-allemand/|title=Indiana Fever sign Belgian guard Julie Allemand|website=fever.wnba.com|publisher=WNBA|date=March 2, 2020|accessdate=March 2, 2020}}

March 6, 2020

| Traded G Shenise Johnson and the 16th pick in the 2020 WNBA draft to the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for the 14th pick in the 2020 WNBA draft and Minnesota's second round pick in the 2021 WNBA draft.{{cite web|url=https://fever.wnba.com/news/shenise-johnson-traded/|title=Fever Acquire Draft Picks in Trade with Minnesota|website=fever.wnba.com|publisher=WNBA|date=March 6, 2020|accessdate=March 10, 2020}}

rowspan=2 | April 22, 2020

| Released G Paris Key{{cite web|url=https://fever.wnba.com/news/fever-release-paris-kea-and-erica-mccall/|title=Fever release Paris Kea and Erica McCall|website=fever.wnba.com|publisher=WNBA|date=April 22, 2020|accessdate=April 30, 2020}}

Released F Erica McCall
August 28, 2020

| Acquired C Jantel Lavender and the Chicago Sky's second and third round picks in the 2021 Draft in exchange for F Stephanie Mavunga.{{cite web|url=https://fever.wnba.com/news/fever-acquire-jantel-lavender-trade-stephanie-mavunga/|title=Fever Acquire Jantel Lavender From Chicago Sky, Trade Stephanie Mavunga|website=fever.wnba.com|publisher=WNBA|date=August 28, 2020|accessdate=August 29, 2020}}

Roster

{{sports roster

| team=Indiana Fever

| season = 2020

| style = WNBA

| players =

{{sports roster/entry | num = 11 | first = Natalie | last = Achonwa | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 3 | lbs = 190 | DOB = 1992-11-22 | yrs = 5 | college = Notre Dame | nat = CAN}}

{{sports roster/entry | num = 20 | first = Julie | last = Allemand | pos = G | ft = 5 | in = 8 | lbs = 147 | DOB = 1996-07-07 | yrs = R | from = Belgium | nat = BEL}}

{{sports roster/entry | num = 8 | first = Kennedy | last = Burke | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 1 | lbs = 182 | DOB = 1997-02-14 | yrs = 1 | college = UCLA | nat = USA}}

{{sports roster/entry | num = 13 | first = Lauren | last = Cox | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 4 | lbs = | DOB = 1998-04-20 | yrs = R | college = Baylor | nat = USA}}

{{sports roster/entry | num = 2 | first = Kathleen | last = Doyle | pos = G | ft = 5 | in = 9 | lbs = | DOB = 1998-06-11 | yrs = R | college = Iowa | nat = USA}}

{{sports roster/entry | num = 4 | first = Candice | last = Dupree | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 2 | lbs = 178 | DOB = 1984-09-16 | yrs = 14 | college = Temple | nat = USA}}

{{sports roster/entry | num = 7 | first = Jantel | last = Lavender | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 4 | lbs = 185 | DOB = 1988-11-12 | yrs = 9 | college = Ohio State | nat = USA}}

{{sports roster/entry | num = 15 | first = Teaira | last = McCowan | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 239 | DOB = 1996-09-28 | yrs = 1 | college = Mississippi State | nat = USA}}

{{sports roster/entry | num = 25 | first = Tiffany | last = Mitchell | link = Tiffany Mitchell (basketball) | pos = G | ft = 5 | in = 9 | lbs = 152 | DOB = 1994-09-23 | 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 = 8 | lbs = 160 | DOB = 1995-11-12 | yrs = 2 | college = Ohio State | nat = USA}}

{{sports roster/entry | num = 3 | first = Kamiah | last = Smalls | pos = G | ft = 5 | in = 10 | lbs = | DOB = 1998-04-17 | yrs = R | college = James Madison | nat = USA}}

{{sports roster/entry | num = 35 | first = Victoria | last = Vivians | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 1 | lbs = 183 | DOB = 1994-11-17 | 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 = 1991-05-02 | yrs = 5 | college = Rutgers | nat = USA}}

| head_coach =

{{sports roster/entry|nat=USA| first = Marianne | last = Stanley| college = Immaculata University}}

| asst_coach =

{{sports roster/entry|nat=USA| first = Steve | last = Smith | nolink = 1|college=}}

{{sports roster/entry|nat=USA| first = April (McDivitt)| last = Schilling | nolink = 1|college=}}

| ath_train =

{{sports roster/entry|nat=USA| first = Garrett | last = Hueber | nolink = 1|college=}}

| str_cond =

{{sports roster/entry|nat=USA| first = Shannon | last = Patterson | nolink = 1|college=}}

}}

Game log

=Regular season=

{{WNBA game log start|Indiana Fever|end_year=2020|note=
Total: 6–16}}

{{WNBA game log section|Indiana Fever|July|first=yes}}

|- style="background:#fcc;"

| 1

| July 25

| Washington Mystics

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200725/INDWAS/ L 76–101]

| K. Mitchell (25)

| Achonwa (7)

| Tied (3)

| IMG Academy
0

| 0–1

|- style="background:#bbffbb;"

| 2

| July 29

| Phoenix Mercury

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200729/PHOIND/ W 106–100]

| T. Mitchell (24)

| McCowan (13)

| K. Mitchell (5)

| IMG Academy
0

| 1–1

|- style="background:#fcc;"

| 3

| July 31

| Dallas Wings

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200731/INDDAL/ L 73–76]

| Tied (11)

| Tied (8)

| Allemand (11)

| IMG Academy
0

| 1–2

{{WNBA game log section|Indiana Fever|August

}}

|- style="background:#bbffbb;"

| 4

| August 2

| Atlanta Dream

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200802/ATLIND/ W 93–77]

| K. Mitchell (23)

| Allemand (7)

| Allemand (9)

| IMG Academy
0

| 2–2

|- style="background:#fcc;"

| 5

| August 5

| Los Angeles Sparks

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200805/INDLAS/ L 75–86]

| K. Mitchell (24)

| Dupree (7)

| T. Mitchell (5)

| IMG Academy
0

| 2–3

|- style="background:#fcc;"

| 6

| August 7

| Minnesota Lynx

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200807/INDMIN/ L 80–87]

| Tied (15)

| McCowan (12)

| Allemand (6)

| IMG Academy
0

| 2–4

|- style="background:#bbffbb;"

| 7

| August 9

| Washington Mystics

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200809/WASIND/ W 91–84]

| K. Mitchell (29)

| McCowan (11)

| Allemand (5)

| IMG Academy
0

| 3–4

|- style="background:#fcc;"

| 8

| August 11

| Las Vegas Aces

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200811/LVAIND/ L 79–98]

| Dupree (20)

| McCowan (8)

| Allemand (6)

| IMG Academy
0

| 3–5

|- style="background:#bbffbb;"

| 9

| August 13

| New York Liberty

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200813/INDNYL/ W 86–79]

| T. Mitchell (19)

| McCowan (13)

| Allemand (5)

| IMG Academy
0

| 4–5

|- style="background:#fcc;"

| 10

| August 15

| Los Angeles Sparks

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200815/LASIND/ L 76–90]

| K. Mitchell (25)

| T. Mitchell (8)

| Tied (4)

| IMG Academy
0

| 4–6

|- style="background:#fcc;"

| 11

| August 18

| Connecticut Sun

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200818/INDCON/ L 62–84]

| K. Mitchell (15)

| Allemand (8)

| Tied (5)

| IMG Academy
0

| 4–7

|- style="background:#bbffbb;"

| 12

| August 20

| Seattle Storm

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200820/SEAIND/ W 90–84]

| Burke (23)

| McCowan (10)

| Allemand (6)

| IMG Academy
0

| 5–7

|- style="background:#fcc;"

| 13

| August 22

| Chicago Sky

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200822/INDCHI/ L 76–87]

| Dupree (18)

| Cox (6)

| Allemand (7)

| IMG Academy
0

| 5–8

|- style="background:#fcc;"

| 14

| August 25

| Seattle Storm

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200825/INDSEA/ L 74–87]

| Burke (17)

| McCowan (11)

| Tied (5)

| IMG Academy
0

| 5–9

|- style="background:#fcc;"

| 15

| August 29

| Dallas Wings

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200829/DALIND/ L 78–82]

| K. Mitchell (19)

| Dupree (9)

| K. Mitchell (4)

| IMG Academy
0

| 5–10

|- style="background:#fcc;"

| 16

| August 31

| Chicago Sky

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200831/CHIIND/ L 77–100]

| McCowan (15)

| McCowan (11)

| Allemand (10)

| IMG Academy
0

| 5–11

{{WNBA game log section|Indiana Fever|September}}

|- style="background:#fcc;"

| 17

| September 1

| Atlanta Dream

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200901/INDATL/ L 90–102]

| Tied (20)

| Tied (7)

| Tied (5)

| IMG Academy
0

| 5–12

|- style="background:#fcc;"

| 18

| September 3

| Phoenix Mercury

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200903/INDPHO/ L 81–105]

| K. Mitchell (16)

| Achonwa (10)

| Dupree (5)

| IMG Academy
0

| 5–13

|- style="background:#fcc;"

| 19

| September 5

| Connecticut Sun

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200905/CONIND/ L 77–96]

| K. Mitchell (16)

| McCowan (7)

| Allemand (8)

| IMG Academy
0

| 5–14

|- style="background:#fcc;"

| 20

| September 8

| Las Vegas Aces

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200908/INDLVA/ L 86–92]

| K. Mitchell (24)

| McCowan (9)

| Allemand (8)

| IMG Academy
0

| 5–15

|- style="background:#bbffbb;"

| 21

| September 10

| New York Liberty

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200910/NYLIND/ W 85–75]

| Dupree (22)

| Dupree (6)

| Dupree (7)

| IMG Academy
0

| 6–15

|- style="background:#fcc;"

| 22

| September 12

| Minnesota Lynx

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200912/MININD/ L 86–98]

| K. Mitchell (20)

| McCowan (9)

| Allemand (9)

| IMG Academy
0

| 6–16

{{WNBA game log end|ind|end_year=2020}}

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.

Julie Allemand

| All-Rookie Team

| September 27, 2030

| {{cite web|url=https://www.wnba.com/news/rookie-of-the-year-crystal-dangerfield-headlines-2020-wnba-all-rookie-team/|title=Rookie Of The Year Crystal Dangerfield Headlines 2020 WNBA All-Rookie Team|website=wnba.com|publisher=WNBA|accessdate=September 29, 2019|date=September 27, 2019}}

Standings

{{2020 WNBA standings|team=IND|notes=yes}}

Statistics

{{WNBA roster statistics legend}}

=Regular season=

Source:{{cite web|url=https://fever.wnba.com/stats/#?season=2020&seasontype=02&permode=avg|title=Team Stats|publisher=WNBA|website=dream.wnba.com|accessdate=October 8, 2020}}

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;" | 22

| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 22

| 32.1

| 44.8

| 38.9

| 84.9

| 2.2

| 2.8

| 0.6

| 0.1

| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 17.9

Tiffany Mitchell

| 19

| 11

| 26.4

| 34.6

| 23.3

| style="background:yellow;" | 95.1

| 3.4

| 2.6

| 0.6

| 0.1

| 12.7

Candice Dupree

| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 22

| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 22

| 30.2

| 46.2

| 16.7

| 85.4

| 5.7

| 2.5

| 0.7

| 0.4

| 12.5

Teaira McCowan

| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 22

| 10

| 21.0

| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 53.6

| 0

| 75.0

| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 7.3

| 0.6

| 0.3

| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 1.0

| 10.9

Julie Allemand

| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 22

| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 22

| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 32.5

| 45.9

| 47.8

| 73.3

| 4.5

| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 5.8

| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 1.1

| 0.4

| 8.5

Natalie Achonwa

| 18

| 11

| 20.2

| 49.6

| 0

| 81.3

| 5.5

| 1.7

| 0.5

| 0.6

| 7.8

Kennedy Burke

| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 22

| 11

| 18.3

| 44.9

| 31.3

| 71.4

| 1.8

| 1.1

| 0.6

| 0.4

| 7.2

Victoria Vivians

| 6

| 0

| 14.2

| 34.5

| 18.2

| 87.5

| 2.3

| 0.5

| 0.2

| 0

| 4.8

Kamiah Smalls

| 7

| 0

| 14.3

| 45.0

| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 58.3

| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 100

| 1.1

| 2.0

| 0.1

| 0.1

| 3.9

Lauren Cox

| 14

| 1

| 13.1

| 41.9

| 50.0

| 73.3

| 0.8

| 1.1

| 0.4

| 0

| 3.6

Kathleen Doyle

| 18

| 0

| 8.6

| 24.4

| 23.8

| 50.0

| 0.8

| 1.1

| 0.4

| 0

| 1.5

References

{{Reflist|}}