But someone else made the trip from the San Antonio Silver Stars to Indiana, and she has turned out to be a headliner in her own right.

Coretta Brown, a 5-9 guard from Statesboro, GA, already has established herself as a candidate to become the team’s second WNBA Rookie of the Year in a row.

“Since she’s been playing for this team, she’s made a huge impact coming off the bench,” said Tamika Catchings, the 2002 Rookie of the Year. “She brings it defensively, scoring-wise and making things happen.”

After a slow start, Brown has come on remarkably strong. In the last four games, she averaged 16.8 points (in just 23.5 minutes), making 22-of-33 from the field (.667) and 11-of-16 from the 3-point line (.688). She is coming off consecutive games with at least 20 points (22 against Connecticut Friday, 20 in Minnesota Saturday).

Her torrid long-distance shooting also has earned her a nickname: “Downtown” Coretta Brown.

“I feel I’m getting better with every practice,” said Brown, an AP Honorable Mention All-America after establishing a school record with a .380 percentage from the 3-point line for her career at North Carolina. “I’m learning more a little more. And just being with this team and having a positive attitude has helped me out.”

With her season scoring average up to 9.9, Brown is a close second to rookie scoring leader Cheryl Ford of Detroit (10.4). She also ranks second among rookies in 3-point percentage (.472) and fifth in field-goal percentage (.475).

“We knew what we were getting in Coretta Brown,” said coach Nell Fortner. “We wanted her.”

With Brown leading the way, the Fever second unit has been a big factor in the team’s 5-4 start. In the last five games, Indiana has enjoyed a 134-73 advantage in bench points, an average advantage of 12.2 per game.

“Our bench has really made a huge difference with our success this year,” Fortner said. “I’m just really proud of all of them. We don’t lose anything when our bench comes in. That’s what’s been happening for us and that’s a real luxury to have. It’s a real credit to them in staying ready to play.”

Fortner, in fact, hopes the depth will enable the Fever to become a better road team. A perfect 4-0 at home, Indiana is 1-4 on the road, including a 66-58 loss in Minnesota. The Fever plays two more road games, at Detroit Tuesday night and Connecticut Thursday night, before returning home for five of the next seven.

“It’s one thing to win at home. It’s another thing to win on the road,” Fortner said. “That’s two totally different things. When you can win on the road, that’s when you know you’re a pretty good team.

“We’ve got a tough schedule right now. That’s a tough little spurt, I think six games in nine days. But I feel really good about the depth of our team. That’s where you’ve got to have a strong bench to help you through those situations.”