WNBA Indiana Fever History: "In case you forgot"!

 

Indiana Fever’s Inaugural Season (2000)

First-Team Members

In their first year, the Fever assembled their roster through an expansion draft and the traditional WNBA Draft. Key initial players Included:

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  Kara Wolters: signed as a center, previously of the Houston Comets

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  Rita Williams:  from Washington Mystics

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  Gordana Grubin: Los Angeles Sparks

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  Stephanie McCarty: Charlotte Sting

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  Nyree Roberts: Washington Mystics

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  Chantel Tremitiere Utah 

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• Additionally, their 2000 draft featured players like Jurgita Štreimikytė, Usha Gilmore, Latina Davis, and Renee Robinson—with Davis and Robinson later traded to Houston for Latavia Coleman.

Standout early contributors on the court were Kara Wolters, Rita Williams, and Monica Maxwell. For that inaugural season:

• Kara Wolters played 31 games (30 starts), averaging 11.9 PPG.

• Rita Williams also had a strong presence, starting 29 games with 11.0 PPG.

Season Record & Outcome

The Fever finished the 2000 season with a 9–23 record under head coach Anne Donovan, placing them near the bottom of the Eastern Conference. They did not qualify for the playoffs.

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Franchise Growth & Key Milestones

Early Trajectory

The Fever's third season (2002) brought their first playoff appearance, finishing with a 16–16 record and losing in the Eastern Semifinals.

Tamika Catchings Era

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  Drafted in 2001, Tamika Catchings debuted in 2002 and quickly became a franchise icon:

  • 2002 WNBA Rookie of the Year

  • 10× All-Star, 5× Defensive Player of the Year, 2011 MVP, 2012 Finals MVP

  • Led Fever to their only WNBA Championship in 2012, defeating the Minnesota Lynx.

    
    
    

• Catchings retired in 2016, her #24 jersey retired in 2017—a singular honor within franchise history.

Recent Revivals

• The team enjoyed long stretches of success (12 consecutive playoff berths from 2005 to 2016) and made Finals appearances again in 2009 and 2015.

• After enduring downturns (including a 5-31 season in 2022), the Fever drafted Caitlin Clark (#1 pick in 2024), sparking renewed excitement and popularity.

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    In 2024, Clark became the first rookie ever named to the All-WNBA First Team, and the Fever returned to the playoffs with a 20-20 record.

  • In 2025, they achieved their best regular-season record ever with 24-20, clinched a playoff berth, and won the inaugural Commissioner’s Cup—highlighting their most successful stretch to date.    BJ