Sutton-Brown Free Agent Signing Highlights Fever Roster Moves

News Release | March 23, 2007
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    Eighth in WNBA history in blocked shots, Sutton-Brown has established herself as one of the most imposing centers in the WNBA.
    Allen Einstein/NBAE/Getty Images
    INDIANAPOLIS � The Indiana Fever has re-signed shooting guard Anna DeForge and agreed to contract terms with All-Star center Tammy Sutton-Brown, as announced by Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Kelly Krauskopf. To accommodate the signing of Sutton-Brown, Indiana completed its second trade this month, sending La�Tangela Atkinson to Sacramento, in exchange for a second-round draft pick in 2008. Per team policy, terms of contracts were not disclosed.


    DeForge

    Sutton-Brown
    DeForge will begin her sixth WNBA season, after averaging 10.2 points per game as Indiana�s third-leading scorer last summer. She also averaged 2.2 assists and 1.2 steals, and her 4.3 rebounds per game were the best average of her career. She enters the 2007 campaign ranked 16th in WNBA history with 244 3-point field goals.

    Securing DeForge assures Indiana of returning its entire starting lineup for the first time in franchise history. Coupled with the signing of Sutton-Brown and the earlier addition of Sheri Sam, Indiana is poised to challenge for its third straight WNBA playoff berth.

    Sutton-Brown, 6-4, begins her seventh WNBA campaign and was perhaps the most sought-after free agent in the WNBA this offseason. She averaged 11.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.83 blocks per game with the Charlotte Sting in 2006. Second in the WNBA in blocks last year and eighth in WNBA history, she adds a tall and athletic low-post presence to the Indiana defense that has led the league in fewest points allowed the past two seasons. Perhaps more importantly, she poses an interior offensive threat which the Fever has lacked through much of its brief franchise history.


    Shown double-teaming Shameka Christon of the New York Liberty, Sam (2) and Sutton-Brown (55) are quite a formidable twosome to join the Fever's five returning starters.
    Kent Smith/NBAE/Getty Images
    The 29-year old Sutton-Brown boasts career averages of 9.5 points, 5.6 boards and 1.5 blocks per game. She had spent all six seasons with the now-disbanded Sting.

    In continuing to build the framework for a championship team, Krauskopf has successfully added a pair of All-Stars while retaining all five starters from the Fever�s 2006 playoff team.

    �Re-signing Anna was very important,� said Krauskopf. �She is a complete player and part of our core group. She completes our perimeter with her playmaking ability and outside shooting. I am very happy to have her back.�

    On Sutton-Brown, Krauskopf added, �We are extremely excited to acquire Tammy. She is one of top post players in the WNBA and we are happy she chose to sign with our franchise. Boosting our frontline was a top priority this offseason. Tammy gives us a big presence in the middle with her size and strength. She is a complete post player with her scoring, rebounding and shot-blocking ability. Adding Tammy has solidified our center position.�

    Joining former Sting teammate Sam as Indiana newcomers, the duo was second- and third among scorers and rebounders for the Sting last season. Both were WNBA All-Stars in 2002.

    The addition of Sutton-Brown upgrades a Fever roster that now includes four All-Stars and a pair of Olympians. A 2001 graduate of Rutgers and a member of the Canadian National Team, Sutton-Brown participated in the 2000 Olympics.

    Following the 2007 WNBA Draft on April 4, training camps open April 22. The Fever hosts a preseason opener on May 5 against the Seattle Storm (6:00 p.m.), and welcomes 2006 Rookie of the Year Seimone Augustus and the Minnesota Lynx to open the regular season, May 19 (7:00 p.m.). For 2007 season or group ticket information, call (317) 917-2500.