The start of the season has been not-so-hot for the Indiana Fever with only one win attached to their record.
Most recently they dropped a game to the second lowest team in the league. They showed some hope with great performances from Tiffany Mitchell and Kelsey Mitchell, but it wasn’t enough.
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The team hasn’t had a winning season since 2016. Since then there has been a coaching change and talks of rebuilding. Coach Marianne Stanley is only in her second season but something still isn’t clicking when you have talents like Teaira McCowan coming off the bench and top draft picks sitting consistently.
Being dead last in points per game, according to Her Hoops Stats, probably has something to do with it as well. The Fever’s top performers have been the Mitchell sisters, with Kelsey averaging 14 points this season while Tiffany averages 10 points per game. They both shoot just under 40 percent from the field and play for the majority of the game, but by themselves it isn’t enough to win games.
McCowan has stepped up but has gotten limited touches even though she is actually the most efficient scorer on the team at 48 percent from the field. Getting McCowan more touches will help, but also improving three-point shooting will aid in efforts to get another win.
The team is currently shooting 27 percent from the three-point line, which is last in a league that heavily relies on the three ball.
The most efficient three-point shooter on the team is Jessica Breland, but bringing in rookie Kyrse Gondrezick, a top five draft pick, might help as she was almost 35 percent from the three point line in college last year.
Focusing on what went right in their only win of the season is key to seeing what will work for the Fever to hopefully get back on track.
As mentioned, bringing up the three-point percentage and improving balanced scoring is key and was the reason they beat the Mystics back in May. The Fever had six players score in double digits and shot over 50 percent from the field while also shooting 40 percent from the three-point line.
More wins like this would allow Lauren Cox, who was a top draft pick in 2020, to get reps to become a dangerous piece for the Fever.
Hopefully as the season continues the stats will improve and give way to the Fever getting back to the playoffs.
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