2002 Results:
The Fever finished
16-16 (.500, fourth in East) and lost to New York in the WNBA Playoffs.
Roster | Stats | 2003 Schedule
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WNBA 2003 Season Preview

2003 Probable Starters:
C:
PF:
SF:
SG:
PG:

2003 Draft Results:
Rd. 1:
Rd. 2:
Rd. 3:
D.D.*:

2002 Leaders:
Points
Tamika Catchings, 18.6 ppg
Rebs.
Tamika Catchings, 8.6 rpg
Assts.
Coquese Washington, 4.4 apg
Blocks
Tamika Catchings, 1.34 bpg
Steals
Tamika Catchings, 2.94 spg

Head Coach:
Nell Fortner enters her third season with the team, and has an 26-38 (.406) career coaching record.

They Said It:
"I don't do this to be fifth in the league. I do it to win it. That's how I come to work every day. That's how I expect them to come to work every day. I don't feel self-conscious about saying that. Shoot, I want to win "
--Head coach Nell Fortner on the Fever's goal for the season

VGM Prospect:
Tamika Catchings
As the Fever are finding out, Catchings is a player around which you can build a franchise. She led the team in points, rebounds, steals and blocked shots.
WNBA.com Virtual GM

Fever Headlines:

(*-Denotes "Dispersal Draft")
(**-Was acquired with Natalie Williams as part of trade with San Antonio for the Fever's dispersal draft pick Sylvia Crawley and draft pick Gwen Jackson)
Indiana Fever: 2003 Preview

See that picture right there, just below this sentence. Yeah, the one of Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings? Go on, take a good look.


Catchings
Got it? Now, go tell your friends that you have seen a photo of one of the top three players, if not the top player, in the WNBA.

You think it's a little far-fetched to place a second-year player among the league's elite? Just look at what Catchings did for the Fever and to opponents last season. She led the league in steals (2.94) and the Fever in points (18.6), rebounds (8.6) and blocks (1.34). Catchings capped one of the finest all-around individual seasons in WNBA history by finishing second on the team in assists. Not only that, she also helped the Fever into the postseason for the first time in franchise history. For her efforts, Catchings was named WNBA Rookie of the Year for 2002.

�She has some unique characteristics about her that make her not only a great basketball player, but a fantastic teammate,� Fever head coach Nell Fortner said after Catchings won the award. �Very rarely do you find a great player that everyone on their team loves them. She reaches out to everyone and has made our team so much better, not only on the court but in the locker room as well.

�She is totally selfless. With her, it is always about the team.�

During the offseason, Catchings continued her excellence half a world away. Catchings played in the Women's Korea Basketball League (WKBL) for Woori Bank Hansae. While in South Korea, Catchings won the All-Star Game MVP, led her team to a regular season league title and was named the championship series MVP after scoring 45 points and grabbing 13 rebounds to help Woori Bank Hansae to a WKBL title.

And she's only 23.

Catchings will also get some help in the frontcourt. With the acquisition of three-time All-Star power forward Natalie Williams, Catchings has someone to hit the boards with her. Williams, who led the WNBA in rebounding in 2000, came to the Fever in the May 1 trade that sent Fever draft pick Gwen Jackson and dispersal draft pick Sylvia Crawley.

Williams' arrival gives the Fever the most formidable foward combination east of the Mississippi. She enters the 2003 WNBA season as the sixth-leading rebounder (1,156) in WNBA history. She's no slouch when it comes to scoring either, as she is seventh in league history with a 15.4 career scoring average.

The Fever are still strong in the frountcourt despite an injury that might sideline Olympia Scott-Richardson for the season. The emergence of center Kelly Schumacher and free-agent center Leigh Aziz left the Fever confident enough to waive last year's starting power forward, Nadine Malcolm.

Even before Williams arrived, the Fever had talent and star-power. Shooting guard Nikki McCray is also a three-time All-Star and hasn't missed a game in four seasons. All three, Catchings, Williams and McCray, played on the U.S. National Team for Fortner.

Point guard Coquese Washington drives the Fever. Washington, who came over from Houston in a trade late last season and led the Fever in assists (4.4 per game), will miss most of training camp after having arthroscopic knee surgery. She's expected to be back for the Fever's opener in Charlotte on May 29. In her stead, Niele Ivey will get a majority of the minutes at point guard in the preseason.

Off the bench, Indiana native Stephanie White returns after missing last season with an injury. Veteran guard Bridget Pettis gives the Fever experience in reserve.

Key Newcomers:

In addition to Williams, rookie Corretta Brown arrived from San Antonio in that trade. Brown, a 5-9 guard from North Carolina, averaged 12.9 points in four years for the Tar Heels and was an Associated Press All-America honorable mention in her senior season. In the second round of the WNBA Draft 2003, the Fever selected guard DeTrina White of LSU.

The Fever also further shored up their frontcourt with free-agent center Kristen Rasmussen from the Miami Sol.



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