# 2023 Indiana Fever season

The 2023 Indiana Fever season was the franchise's 24th season in the Women's National Basketball Association, and their first season under new head coach Christie Sides.
The Fever named Sides their new head coach on November 4, 2022. She previously spent two seasons in Indiana as an assistant coach from 2018 to 2019.
The Fever won the 2023 WNBA Draft Lottery and were awarded the first overall pick for the first time in franchise history, where the team selected Aliyah Boston.
The Fever started the season slowly going 1–3 in May, with their one win coming against Atlanta. The Fever showed improvement in June, finishing the season 4–7. However, they won four of six games in the middle of the month and took Chicago to overtime. Their improvement did not persist into July however, as the team went 1–9, including an eight game losing streak that spanned June and July. The team turned their fortunes around in August and finished 5–5. The team did lose five of six games in the middle of the month, but finished the month on a three game winning streak. The Fever finished September 2–3, with both wins coming against playoff teams. Their .325 winning percentage was the best since 2019 and their thirteen wins were the most since 2019.

## Transactions
### WNBA draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Nationality | School/Team/Country |
| 1 | 1 | Aliyah Boston | United States | South Carolina |
| 1 | 7 | Grace Berger | United States | Indiana |
| 2 | 13 | Taylor Mikesell | United States | Ohio State |
| 2 | 17 | LaDazhia Williams | United States | LSU |
| 3 | 25 | Victaria Saxton | United States | South Carolina |

### Transactions

| Date | Transaction |
| November 4, 2022 | Hired Christie Sides as Head Coach |
| January 4, 2023 | Waived Florencia Chagas |
| January 11, 2023 | Extended Qualifying Offers to Emma Cannon, Victoria Vivians, Khayla Pointer, Rennia Davis, and Temi Fagbenle |
| January 13, 2023 | Traded Danielle Robinson to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for Kristy Wallace |
| January 20, 2023 | Extended General Manager Contract for Lin Dunn and removed her Interim Tag. Promoted Hillary Spears to Assistant GM. |
| February 1, 2023 | Signed Erica Wheeler to a 2-Year Deal |
| February 2, 2023 | Signed Maya Caldwell to a 1-Year Deal |
| February 2, 2023 | Signed Chelsey Perry, Rennia Davis, and Khayla Pointer to Training Camp Contracts |
| February 5, 2023 | Signed Victoria Vivians |
| February 8, 2023 | Signed Emma Cannon to a 1-Year Deal |
| February 15, 2023 | Signed Bernadett Határ to a Training Camp Contract |
| March 29, 2023 | Hired Paul Miller as Assistant Coach |
| April 6, 2023 | Waived Khayla Pointer |
| April 14, 2023 | Signed Grace Berger, Taylor Mikesell, LaDazhia Williams, and Victaria Saxton to Rookie Scale Contracts |
| April 17, 2023 | Signed Aliyah Boston to a Rookie Scale Contract |
| April 23, 2023 | Waived Chelsey Perry |
| April 26, 2023 | Waived Emily Engstler |
| May 3, 2023 | Waived Rennia Davis |
| May 9, 2023 | Waived LaDazhia Williams |
| May 16, 2023 | Waived Destanni Henderson |
| May 17, 2023 | Waived Taylor Mikesell |
| May 18, 2023 | Temporarily suspend the contract of Bernadett Határ due to Overseas Commitments |
| June 8, 2023 | Waived Bernadett Határ |
| July 4, 2023 | Traded Queen Egbo to the Washington Mystics in exchange for Amanda Zahui B |

### Roster Changes
## Roster
### Depth

| Pos. | Starter | Bench |
| PG | Erica Wheeler | Kristy Wallace Grace Berger |
| SG | Kelsey Mitchell | Maya Caldwell |
| SF | Lexie Hull | Victoria Vivians |
| PF | NaLyssa Smith | Emma Cannon Victaria Saxton |
| C | Aliyah Boston | Amanda Zahui B. |

## Schedule
### Preseason

2023 pre-season game log Total: 1–1 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–1) :
May: 1–1 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
May 7
@ Chicago
L 56–81
Kelsey Mitchell (9)
NaLyssa Smith (5)
Destanni Henderson (3)
Wintrust Arena 2,024
0–1
2
May 13
Dallas
W 90–83
Kelsey Mitchell (29)
Queen Egbo (9)
Erica Wheeler (9)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse 2,084
1–1 :
2023 pre-season schedule :

### Regular Season

2023 game log Total: 13–27 (Home: 6–14; Road: 7–13) :
May: 1–3 (Home: 0–1; Road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
May 19
Connecticut
L 61–70
Kelsey Mitchell (20)
Boston Smith (9)
Erica Wheeler (5)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse 7,356
0–1
2
May 21
@ New York
L 73–90
NaLyssa Smith (16)
NaLyssa Smith (12)
Kelsey Mitchell (3)
Barclays Center 8,575
0–2
3
May 28
@ Atlanta
W 90–87
NaLyssa Smith (23)
NaLyssa Smith (12)
Erica Wheeler (4)
Gateway Center Arena 3,209
1–2
4
May 30
@ Connecticut
L 78–81
Aliyah Boston (20)
NaLyssa Smith (15)
Erica Wheeler (7)
Mohegan Sun Arena 5,317
1–3 :
June
: 4–7 (Home: 1–3; Road: 3–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
5
June 4
Las Vegas
L 80–84
Kelsey Mitchell (22)
Queen Egbo (10)
Berger Vivians (4)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse 6,131
1–4
6
June 6
@ Chicago
L 103–108 (OT)
Aliyah Boston (25)
Aliyah Boston (11)
Erica Wheeler (12)
Wintrust Arena 5,201
1–5
7
June 9
@ Minnesota
W 71–69
Kelsey Mitchell (22)
NaLyssa Smith (12)
Grace Berger (4)
Target Center 8,510
2–5
8
June 11
Phoenix
L 82–85
NaLyssa Smith (29)
NaLyssa Smith (12)
Erica Wheeler (8)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse 5,013
2–6
9
June 13
Washington
W 87–66
Aliyah Boston (23)
Aliyah Boston (14)
Aliyah Boston (6)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse 3,005
3–6
10
June 15
@ Chicago
W 92–90
Aliyah Boston (19)
Boston Smith (8)
Kelsey Mitchell (5)
Wintrust Arena 6,323
4–6
11
June 18
Atlanta
L 94–100
Aliyah Boston (25)
NaLyssa Smith (7)
Erica Wheeler (8)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse 4,024
4–7
12
June 22
@ Seattle
W 80–68
Kelsey Mitchell (25)
NaLyssa Smith (14)
Boston Wallace Wheeler (5)
Climate Pledge Arena 7,734
5–7
13
June 24
@ Las Vegas
L 88–101
NaLyssa Smith (26)
NaLyssa Smith (11)
Wallace Wheeler (6)
Michelob Ultra Arena 8,310
5–8
14
June 26
@ Las Vegas
L 80–88
Boston Wheeler (20)
Boston Smith (14)
Boston Wheeler (3)
Michelob Ultra Arena
5–9
15
June 29
@ Phoenix
L 63–85
Kelsey Mitchell (15)
Boston Smith (9)
Boston Mitchell Wheeler (4)
Footprint Center 9,047
5–10 :
July
: 1–9 (Home: 0–4; Road: 1–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
16
July 2
Chicago
L 87–89
NaLyssa Smith (27)
NaLyssa Smith (8)
Kelsey Mitchell (8)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse 4,004
5–11
17
July 5
@ Minnesota
L 83–90
Aliyah Boston (22)
NaLyssa Smith (11)
Erica Wheeler (7)
Target Center 7,624
5–12
18
July 7
@ Washington
L 88–96
Lexie Hull (20)
Boston Smith (7)
Erica Wheeler (7)
Entertainment and Sports Arena 4,200
5–13
19
July 9
Dallas
L 76–77
Aliyah Boston (18)
Aliyah Boston (8)
Kelsey Mitchell (4)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse 3,612
5–14
20
July 12
New York
L 87–95 (OT)
Aliyah Boston (23)
Boston Vivians (9)
Erica Wheeler (5)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse 6,123
5–15
21
July 19
Washington
W 82–76
Kelsey Mitchell (18)
Aliyah Boston (8)
Kelsey Mitchell (5)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse 14,406
6–15
22
July 23
@ New York
L 83–101
Victoria Vivians (16)
Caldwell Vivians (5)
Grace Berger (5)
Barclays Center 7,371
6–16
23
July 25
@ Los Angeles
L 78–79
Kelsey Mitchell (19)
Vivians Zahui B. (6)
Erica Wheeler (8)
Crypto.com Arena 5,565
6–17
24
July 27
@ Los Angeles
L 68–81
Erica Wheeler (17)
Erica Wheeler (8)
Erica Wheeler (7)
Crypto.com Arena 11,970
6–18
25
July 30
Seattle
L 62–85
Kelsey Mitchell (19)
Aliyah Boston (7)
Mitchell Wheeler (5)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse 5,196
6–19 :
August
: 5–5 (Home: 4–4; Road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
26
August 1
Phoenix
W 72–71
Emma Cannon (23)
Aliyah Boston (11)
Aliyah Boston (4)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse 3,018
7–19
27
August 4
Connecticut
L 72–88
Aliyah Boston (19)
Aliyah Boston (8)
Boston Wheeler (4)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse 3,498
7–20
28
August 6
@ Atlanta
L 73–82
Aliyah Boston (25)
Aliyah Boston (10)
Erica Wheeler (5)
Gateway Center Arena 3,209
7–21
29
August 8
Los Angeles
L 80–87
Kelsey Mitchell (21)
Aliyah Boston (9)
Kristy Wallace (7)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse 3,006
7–22
30
August 10
Minnesota
W 91–73
Kelsey Mitchell (24)
Aliyah Boston (10)
Erica Wheeler (10)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse 2,551
8–22
31
August 13
New York
L 89–100
Kelsey Mitchell (22)
Boston Smith (9)
Aliyah Boston (5)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse 5,019
8–23
32
August 18
Washington
L 79–83
Emma Cannon (17)
Aliyah Boston (10)
Kelsey Mitchell (7)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse 3,506
8–24
33
August 20
@ Phoenix
W 83–73
Kelsey Mitchell (28)
NaLyssa Smith (11)
Grace Berger (5)
Footprint Center 11,807
9–24
34
August 24
Seattle
W 90–86
Kelsey Mitchell (36)
NaLyssa Smith (11)
Kristy Wallace (5)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse 2,644
10–24
35
August 27
Atlanta
W 83–80
Kristy Wallace (20)
NaLyssa Smith (13)
Kelsey Mitchell (6)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse 4,034
11–24 :
September
: 2–3 (Home: 1–2; Road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
36
September 1
Dallas
L 100–110
Aliyah Boston (18)
Boston Smith (11)
Erica Wheeler (10)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse 3,137
11–25
37
September 3
@ Dallas
W 97–84 (OT)
Mitchell Smith (30)
Aliyah Boston (11)
Erica Wheeler (11)
College Park Center 5,058
12–25
38
September 5
Chicago
L 69–96
NaLyssa Smith (16)
NaLyssa Smith (7)
Grace Berger (6)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse 2,450
12–26
39
September 8
@ Connecticut
L 59–76
Kelsey Mitchell (15)
Aliyah Boston (7)
Erica Wheeler (3)
Mohegan Sun Arena 5,064
12–27
40
September 10
Minnesota
W 87–72
Kelsey Mitchell (24)
Aliyah Boston (12)
Smith Wheeler (3)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse 4,009
13–27 :
2023 season schedule :

## Standings

| # | Team vte | W | L | PCT | GB | Conf. | Home | Road | Cup |
| 1 | x – Las Vegas Aces | 34 | 6 | .850 | – | 18–2 | 19–1 | 15–5 | 9–1 |
| 2 | x – New York Liberty | 32 | 8 | .800 | 2 | 16–4 | 15–5 | 17–3 | 7–3 |
| 3 | x – Connecticut Sun | 27 | 13 | .675 | 7 | 14–6 | 13–7 | 14–6 | 7–3 |
| 4 | x – Dallas Wings | 22 | 18 | .550 | 12 | 11–9 | 11–9 | 11–9 | 6–4 |
| 5 | x – Atlanta Dream | 19 | 21 | .475 | 15 | 11–9 | 11–9 | 8–12 | 6–4 |
| 6 | x – Minnesota Lynx | 19 | 21 | .475 | 15 | 12–8 | 9–11 | 10–10 | 5–5 |
| 7 | x – Washington Mystics | 19 | 21 | .475 | 15 | 9–11 | 12–8 | 7–13 | 5–5 |
| 8 | x – Chicago Sky | 18 | 22 | .450 | 16 | 5–15 | 7–13 | 11–9 | 3–7 |
| 9 | e – Los Angeles Sparks | 17 | 23 | .425 | 17 | 9–11 | 10–10 | 7–13 | 5–5 |
| 10 | e – Indiana Fever | 13 | 27 | .325 | 21 | 5–15 | 6–14 | 7–13 | 2–8 |
| 11 | e – Seattle Storm | 11 | 29 | .275 | 23 | 8–12 | 4–16 | 7–13 | 4–6 |
| 12 | e – Phoenix Mercury | 9 | 31 | .225 | 25 | 2–18 | 8–12 | 1–19 | 1–9 |
Notes
    (#) – League Standing
    x – Clinched playoff berth
    e – Eliminated from postseason contention
    Source: Overall standings and Commissioner's Cup Standings

## Statistics
### Regular Season

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Kelsey Mitchell | 40 | 40 | 33.7 | .441 | .398 | .824 | 1.6 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 18.2 |
| NaLyssa Smith | 31 | 28 | 28.5 | .477 | .284 | .677 | 9.2 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 15.5 |
| Aliyah Boston | 40 | 40 | 31.2 | .578 | .400 | .745 | 8.4 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 14.5 |
| Erica Wheeler | 40 | 40 | 26.8 | .398 | .309 | .878 | 3.0 | 5.0 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 9.9 |
| Kristy Wallace | 37 | 9 | 19.7 | .401 | .435 | .750 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 6.6 |
| Emma Cannon | 30 | 3 | 10.5 | .455 | .382 | .909 | 3.1 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 5.8 |
| Victoria Vivians | 38 | 14 | 17.7 | .380 | .287 | .767 | 3.1 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 5.2 |
| Lexie Hull | 30 | 25 | 20.6 | .372 | .217 | .773 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 4.6 |
| Grace Berger | 36 | 0 | 14.6 | .449 | .471 | .840 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 4.2 |
| Queen Egbo$^†$ | 16 | 0 | 8.9 | .400 | .000 | .647 | 4.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 2.9 |
| Maya Caldwell | 30 | 1 | 10.1 | .292 | .138 | .857 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 1.9 |
| Amanda Zahui B.$^≠$ | 22 | 0 | 7.3 | .261 | .130 | .750 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 1.5 |
| Victaria Saxton | 15 | 0 | 3.6 | .333 | .500 | .857 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 1.3 |
$^‡$Waived/Released during the season $^†$Traded during the season $^≠$Acquired during the season

## Awards and honors

| Recipient | Award | Date awarded |
| Aliyah Boston | Rookie of the Month - May | June 2 |
| Aliyah Boston | Eastern Conference Player of the Week | June 20 |
| Aliyah Boston | WNBA All-Star Starter | June 25 |
| Aliyah Boston | Rookie of the Month - June | July 5 |
| Aliyah Boston | Rookie of the Month - August | September 6 |
| Aliyah Boston | WNBA Rookie of the Year | October 2 |
| Aliyah Boston | WNBA All-Rookie Team | October 2 |
| Kelsey Mitchell | WNBA All-Star | July 1 |
| Kelsey Mitchell | Eastern Conference Player of the Week | August 29 |