# 2016 Indiana Fever season

The 2016 WNBA season was the 17th season for the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association. The season tipped off on May 1.
The Fever began the season slowly, losing their opening game. They won the next two games before losing their final two games in May to finish the month with a 2–3 record. In June, the team continued to struggle to find some consistency. They won their first game, but lost the next. After defeating Connecticut, they went on a three game losing streak. The streak ended with a win at San Antonio, but that was followed by an overtime loss to New York. The Fever won their last two games of the month and finished 5–6 in June. The team lost their first two games in July before winning the next two. A loss to Connecticut prevented a winning streak from developing. However, they won their final three games of the month going into the Olympic break. The streak included a ten-point win over Los Angeles. The Fever got off to a slow start after the break, losing their only two games in August, and not managing to score more than 70 points in either. They won their opening game of September, before losing in Los Angeles. They then went on a three game winning streak, which was followed by two losses. They won their final game of the season against Dallas to finish September 5–3.
The Fever finished with a record of 17–17, which placed them third in the Eastern Conference and fifth overall. As the fifth-seed in the 2016 WNBA Playoffs, they hosted the eighth-seed Phoenix Mercury in the First Round. The Fever lost 78–89 to end their season.

## Transactions
### WNBA draft

The Fever made three selections in the 2016 WNBA Entry Draft in Uncasville, Connecticut:
| Round | Pick | Player | Nationality | WNBA Team | School/Team/Country |
| 1 | 9 | Tiffany Mitchell | United States | Indiana Fever | South Carolina |
| 2 | 21 | Brene Moseley | United States | Indiana Fever | Maryland |
| 3 | 29 | Julie Allemand | Belgium | Indiana Fever | Castors Braine |

### Trades and Roster Changes

| Date | Transaction |
| February 1 | Re-Signed Shenise Johnson and Lynetta Kizer |
| February 2 | The Fever acquired Natasha Howard from the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for Devereaux Peters |
| May 10 | The Fever acquired the 22nd overall pick in the 2017 WNBA draft from the Atlanta Dream in exchange for Layshia Clarendon |
| May 24 | Head Coach Stephanie White announced that she would finish the season and then leave the team |

## Game Log
### Preseason

2016 pre-season game log :
May: 2–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1May 1, 2016 1:00 pmDallasW 108–90Maggie Lucas (22)Natalie Achonwa (8)6 players (2)Bankers Life Fieldhouse 6,2141–0
2May 6, 2016 11:30 am@ WashingtonW 89–69Tamika Catchings (16)Mitchell, Taylor (6)Devereaux Peters (5)Verizon Center 2,0722–0 :
2016 pre-season schedule :

### Regular season

2016 game log Total: 17–17 (Home: 8–9 Road: 9–8) :
May: 2–3 (Home: 2–1; Road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1May 14, 2016 6:00 pmDallasL 79–90Tiffany Mitchell (18)Erlana Larkins (13)Erlana Larkins (4)Bankers Life Fieldhouse 8,5690–1
2May 18, 2016 7:00 pmPhoenixW 97–93Johnson, Wheeler (16)Erlana Larkins (10)Shenise Johnson (7)Bankers Life Fieldhouse 6,7491–1
3May 20, 2016 7:00 pmAtlantaW 94–85Tamika Catchings (14)Shenise Johnson (7)Brene Moseley (6)Bankers Life Fieldhouse 7,6082–1
4May 27, 2016 8:00 pm@ MinnesotaL 71–74Tiffany Mitchell (16)Coleman, Larkins (6)Tiffany Mitchell (4)Target Center 7,5032–2
5May 29, 2016 3:00 pm@ AtlantaL 74–76Erica Wheeler (18)Achonwa, Larkins (8)Erica Wheeler (7)Philips Arena 5,2332–3 :
June: 5–6 (Home: 1–3; Road: 4–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
6June 1, 2016 7:00 pmSeattleW 85–75Lynetta Kizer (20)Marissa Coleman (7)Catchings, January, Moseley (3)Bankers Life Fieldhouse 6,7213–3
7June 3, 2016 7:30 pm@ New YorkL 59–91Tiffany Mitchell (11)Erlana Larkins (7)Briann January (3)Madison Square Garden 8,5663–4
8June 5, 2016 3:00 pm@ ConnecticutW 88–77Tiffany Mitchell (21)Erlana Larkins (10)Briann January (5)Mohegan Sun Arena 5,3464–4
9June 10, 2016 7:00 pmChicagoL 64–73Briann January (17)Erlana Larkins (9)Marissa Coleman (5)Bankers Life Fieldhouse 7,5334-5
10June 12, 2016 6:00 pmSeattleL 88–90Tamika Catchings (27)Tamika Catchings (6)Marissa Coleman (3)Bankers Life Fieldhouse 6,7244–6
11June 14, 2016 8:00 pm@ MinnesotaL 63–87Erlana Larkins (12)Erlana Larkins (9)Briann January (4)Target Center 7,6234–7
12June 17, 2016 8:00 pm@ San AntonioW 84–75Tamika Catchings (23)Erlana Larkins (8)Briann January (8)AT&T Center 6,1075–7
13June 19, 2016 2:00 pmNew YorkL 75–78 (OT)Tamika Catchings (23)Erlana Larkins (15)Briann January (5)Bankers Life Fieldhouse 7,4405–8
14June 22 7:00 pm@ WashingtonL 62–76Lynetta Kizer (18)Kizer, Peters (7)Catchings, January (4)Verizon Center 4,4305–9
15June 25 8:30 pm@ DallasW 92–87Erlana Larkins (19)Erlana Larkins (7)Briann January (7)College Park Center 5,2066–9
16June 29 12:30 pm@ ChicagoW 95–83Tamika Catchings (26)Erlana Larkins (9)Erica Wheeler (9)Allstate Arena 11,8927–9 :
July: 5–3 (Home: 2–2; Road: 3–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
17July 1, 2016 7:00 pmSan AntonioL 85–87 (OT)Erlana Larkins (16)Erlana Larkins (17)Briann January (7)Bankers Life Fieldhouse 7,5197–10
18July 6, 2016 10:30 pm@ Los AngelesL 88–94Tiffany Mitchell (20)Kizer, Wheeler (4)Erica Wheeler (7)Staples Center 8,2247–11
19July 8, 2016 10:00 pm@ PhoenixW 78–60January, Larkins (13)Erlana Larkins (10)January, Mitchell, Johnson (3)US Airways Center 10,3718–11
20July 10, 2016 7:00 pm@ SeattleW 93–82Shenise Johnson (18)Erlana Larkins (7)Briann January (7)KeyArena 5,9759–11
21July 13, 2016 12:00 pmConnecticutW 64–86Lynetta Kizer (18)Tamika Catchings (6)Briann January (5)Bankers Life Fieldhouse 12,2729–12
22July 15, 2016 7:00 pmAtlantaW 78–72Catchings, Kizer (18)Erlana Larkins (11)Briann January (6)Bankers Life Fieldhouse 8,61210–12
23July 19, 2016 8:00 pmLos AngelesW 92–82Tamika Catchings (23)Coleman, Kizer (5)Briann January (9)Bankers Life Fieldhouse 7,26911–12
24July 21, 2016 11:00 am@ New YorkW 82–70Lynetta Kizer (21)Tamika Catchings (8)Shenise Johnson (7)Madison Square Garden 11,25312–12 :
August: 0–2 (Home: 0–2; Road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
25August 27, 2016 7:00 pmWashingtonL 69–92Achonwa, Catchings, Larkins (12)Shenise Johnson (9)Briann January (7)Bankers Life Fieldhouse 8,08112–13
26August 30, 2016 7:00 pmPhoenixL 65–79Erlana Larkins (12)Erlana Larkins (8)Briann January (4)Bankers Life Fieldhouse 7,25012-14 :
September: 5–3 (Home: 3–1; Road: 2–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
27September 1, 2016 7:00 pmNew YorkW 98–77Shenise Johnson (21)Tamika Catchings (9)Catchings, Larkins, Wheeler (4)Bankers Life Fieldhouse 6,52413–14
28September 4, 2016 7:00 pm@ Los AngelesL 81–88Erica Wheeler - 20Erlana Larkins - 7Briann January (5)Staples Center 11,33213–15
29September 6, 2016 8:00 pm@ San AntonioW 71–69Lynetta Kizer (15)Catchings, Coleman (8)Coleman, January, Mitchell 2AT&T Center 5,83814–15
30September 9, 2016 7:00 pmChicagoW 95–88Briann January (20)Tamika Catchings (8)Briann January (6)Bankers Life Fieldhouse 10,53315–15
31September 11, 2016 4:00 pm@ WashingtonW 80–73Kizer, Wheeler (17)Marissa Coleman (7)Briann January (4)Verizon Center 6,54216–15
32September 13, 2016 7:00 pm@ ConnecticutL 87–89Shenise Johnson (23)Coleman, Kizer (8)Tamika Catchings (4)Mohegan Sun Arena 4,40716–16
33September 16, 2016 7:00 pmMinnesotaL 75–82Marissa Coleman (19)Erlana Larkins (6)Erlana Larkins (4)Bankers Life Fieldhouse 8,66316–17
34September 18, 2016 4:00 pmDallasW 83–60Catchings, Kizer (16)Erlana Larkins (9)Briann January (8)Bankers Life Fieldhouse 17,70417–17 :
2016 season schedule :

### Playoffs

2016 playoff game log Total 0–1 :
September: 0–1 (Home: 0–1; Road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1September 21, 2016 6:00 p.m.PhoenixL 89–78Catchings, Coleman (13)Tamika Catchings (10)Briann January (9)Bankers Life Fieldhouse 6,2820–1 :
2016 playoff schedule :

## Standings

| Western Conference vte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Conf. |
| 1 - Minnesota Lynx | 28 | 6 | .824 | — | 15–2 | 13–4 | 15–1 |
| 2 - Los Angeles Sparks | 26 | 8 | .765 | 2 | 14–3 | 12–5 | 11–5 |
| 7 - Seattle Storm | 16 | 18 | .471 | 12 | 10–7 | 6–11 | 7–9 |
| 8 - Phoenix Mercury | 16 | 18 | .471 | 12 | 11–6 | 5–12 | 6–10 |
| e - Dallas Wings | 11 | 23 | .324 | 17 | 6–11 | 5–12 | 8–8 |
| e - San Antonio Stars | 7 | 27 | .206 | 21 | 4–13 | 3–14 | 1–15 |
Notes
    # – Playoff seed
    e – Eliminated from playoffs
| Eastern Conference vte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Conf. |
| 3 - New York Liberty | 21 | 13 | .618 | — | 10–7 | 11–6 | 11–5 |
| 4 - Chicago Sky | 18 | 16 | .529 | 3 | 11–6 | 7–10 | 8–8 |
| 5 - Indiana Fever | 17 | 17 | .500 | 4 | 8–9 | 9–8 | 8–8 |
| 6 - Atlanta Dream | 17 | 17 | .500 | 4 | 11–6 | 6–11 | 9–7 |
| e - Connecticut Sun | 14 | 20 | .412 | 7 | 8–9 | 6–11 | 4–12 |
| e - Washington Mystics | 13 | 21 | .382 | 8 | 5–12 | 8–9 | 8–8 |
Notes
    # – Playoff seed
    e – Eliminated from playoffs

## Playoffs

The Fever qualified for the 2016 playoffs with the 5th best season record in the WNBA. The Fever would lose to the Phoenix Mercury in the first round, single-elimination game.
| First round: Single elimination (Sept. 21) | First round: Single elimination (Sept. 21) | First round: Single elimination (Sept. 21) | Second round: Single elimination (Sept. 24 and 25) | Second round: Single elimination (Sept. 24 and 25) | Second round: Single elimination (Sept. 24 and 25) | Semifinals: Best-of-five (Sept. 28 – Oct. 6) | Semifinals: Best-of-five (Sept. 28 – Oct. 6) | Semifinals: Best-of-five (Sept. 28 – Oct. 6) | Semifinals: Best-of-five (Sept. 28 – Oct. 6) | Semifinals: Best-of-five (Sept. 28 – Oct. 6) | Semifinals: Best-of-five (Sept. 28 – Oct. 6) | WNBA Finals: Best-of-five (Oct. 9 – 20) | WNBA Finals: Best-of-five (Oct. 9 – 20) | WNBA Finals: Best-of-five (Oct. 9 – 20) | WNBA Finals: Best-of-five (Oct. 9 – 20) | WNBA Finals: Best-of-five (Oct. 9 – 20) | WNBA Finals: Best-of-five (Oct. 9 – 20) | WNBA Finals: Best-of-five (Oct. 9 – 20) |
| | | | | | | 1 | Minnesota Lynx | 113 | 96 | 82 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 3 | New York Liberty | 94 | 8 | Phoenix Mercury | Phoenix Mercury | 95 | 86 | 67 | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Indiana Fever | 78 | 8 | Phoenix Mercury | 101 | | | | | | | 1 | Minnesota Lynx | 76 | 79 | 75 | 85 | 76 |
| 8 | Phoenix Mercury | 89 | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Los Angeles Sparks | 78 | 60 | 92 | 79 | 77 |
| | | | | | | 2 | Los Angeles Sparks | 95 | 99 | 66 | 95 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | Chicago Sky | 108 | 4 | Chicago Sky | 75 | 84 | 70 | 75 | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Atlanta Dream | 94 | 6 | Atlanta Dream | 98 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Seattle Storm | 85 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Note: Teams re-seeded after second round and semi-finals.

## Statistics
### Regular season

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Tamika Catchings | 34 | 34 | 24.8 | 43.3% | 35.0% | 86.2% | 4.8 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 12.7 |
| Shenise Johnson | 29 | 10 | 22.4 | 41.0% | 35.9% | 93.8% | 3.5 | 2.1 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 9.8 |
| Briann January | 29 | 27 | 28.1 | 40.1% | 39.2% | 87.5% | 1.8 | 4.7 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 9.7 |
| Lynetta Kizer | 33 | 12 | 17.2 | 55.6% | 0.0% | 80.0% | 3.2 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 9.6 |
| Tiffany Mitchell | 34 | 8 | 20.0 | 36.1% | 29.4% | 9.11% | 1.7 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 8.6 |
| Erica Wheeler | 34 | 25 | 23.9 | 41.8% | 29.8% | 83.3% | 2.1 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 8.4 |
| Erlana Larkins | 33 | 33 | 26.7 | 63.9% | — | 88.4% | 7.4 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 8.3 |
| Marissa Coleman | 32 | 21 | 24.4 | 34.6% | 26.8% | 75.3% | 3.3 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 8.3 |
| Maggie Lucas | 4 | 0 | 13.8 | 52.4% | 20.0% | 100% | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 7.8 |
| Devereaux Peters | 30 | 0 | 14.7 | 54.9% | 33.3% | 55.6% | 3.0 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 5.2 |
| Natalie Achonwa | 24 | 0 | 8.1 | 54.5% | — | 70.0% | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 3.6 |
| Brene Moseley | 8 | 0 | 9.6 | 26.1% | 20.0% | 40.0% | 0.4 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1.9 |
| Jeanette Pohlen-Mavunga | 12 | 0 | 4.1 | 54.5% | 50.0% | 100% | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.3 |

## Awards and honors

| Recipient | Award | Date awarded |
| Tamika Catchings | Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award | September 21 |
| Tiffany Mitchell | WNBA All-Rookie Team | September 29 |
| Briann January | WNBA All-Defensive First Team | September 30 |
| Tamika Catchings | WNBA All-Defensive Second Team | September 30 |