INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Fever attributed last season's
first round playoff loss to Detroit to a lack of experience on a
team that had eight new faces.
The core of that team returns intact, giving the Fever a new
confidence level heading into their season opener against Minnesota
Saturday night at Conseco Fieldhouse.
"We definitely have high expectations for this year," All-Star
forward Tamika Catchings said. "I think the sky's the limit for
this team."
Catchings was the league's defensive player of the year for the
second straight season and was the leading vote-getter for the
All-Star game last year. She ranked in the league's top ten in
scoring, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks.
Forward Tamika Whitmore made the All-Star game for the first
time in her eight-year career in 2006. She averaged a career-best
15.5 points per game last season for the 21-13 Fever and scored a
WNBA playoff-record 41 points in a loss to Detroit.
Veteran point guard Tully Bevilaqua returns, along with shooting
guard Anna DeForge, center Ebony Hoffman and reserve guard Tan
White.
The Fever think the missing pieces to a championship team might
have arrived in veteran center Tammy Sutton-Brown and rookie
6-foot-7 center Alison Bales from Duke. Coach Brian Winters said
they are capable players on both ends of the floor.
"We're bigger, longer and taller at center," Winters said.
"We've always been undersized at that position. It's good to have
some size."
The Fever led the league in scoring defense last season, and
just got tougher with the upgrade at the center position.
"We start with a defensive mindset," Winters said. "We've
been good defensively and we wouldn't want to change that.
Bales, an Indianapolis native, made an impression in the
preseason. She averaged 7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in
two games.
"Defensively, Alison has done a great job," Catchings said.
"Just knowing that you have somebody back there if you get beat
helps us to be more aggressive."
Veteran guard Sheri Sam averaged 10.6 points and 5.1 rebounds
per game for Charlotte last season.
Winters said the Fever should improve offensively because
Sutton-Brown and Bales provide low-post scoring that will free up
their outside shooters.
Quality depth will allow Winters to do some tinkering. He said
Catchings could play some point guard this season when the team
wants to go big.
The Fever have never been to the WNBA Finals. To get there, they
likely will have to play Detroit again. The Shock swept the Fever
2-0 in last year's playoffs on their way to the league
championship. Detroit traded away center Ruth Riley, but added
guard Shannon Johnson and center Katie Feenstra and drafted guard
Ivory Latta.
"Of course, when we're talking about the Finals, the East is
run through Detroit," Catchings said. "I think all the teams in
the East are conscientious of what the Shock are doing."