History of Indiana Fever in Timeline

The Indiana Fever are a professional women's basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana, competing in the WNBA's Eastern Conference since the 2000 season. The team is owned by Herb Simon, who is also the founder of Simon Property Group.

June 7, 1999: WNBA Expansion Announcement

On June 7, 1999, the WNBA announced that Indiana was one of four locations granted an expansion franchise.

December 15, 1999: Expansion Draft

On December 15, 1999, the WNBA held an expansion draft for the Indiana Fever, Miami Sol, Portland Fire, and Seattle Storm.

1999: Team logo created

The Indiana Fever team logo was created in 1999 by designer Todd Radom.

2000: Chris Denari becomes Play-by-Play Announcer

In 2000, Chris Denari began his role as the team's Play-by-Play Announcer.

2000: Indiana Fever Team Founding

In 2000, the Indiana Fever team was founded following the WNBA's expansion announcement. The Fever's launch campaign was accompanied by the slogan "In 49 states it's just basketball, but this is Indiana."

2000: Team Founded

In 2000, the Indiana Fever were founded as an American professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, competing in the WNBA.

2001: Drafting Tamika Catchings

In 2001, the Indiana Fever drafted University of Tennessee star Tamika Catchings in the WNBA Draft. Catchings tore her ACL during a college game and missed the entire WNBA season. The Fever posted a 10–22 record in 2001.

2002: Tamika Catchings as Fever's Franchise Player

In 2002, Tamika Catchings was known as the Fever's franchise player.

2002: Offseason Changes

In the 2002-2003 offseason, the Indiana Fever added Olympian Natalie Williams and Charlotte Sting star Kelly Miller.

2002: Breakout Season for Catchings and Fever

The 2002 season was a breakout season for Tamika Catchings and the Fever. Catchings won Rookie of the Year and made the WNBA All-Star team. Her team competed well all year and posted a respectable 16–16 record, tying for the final playoff spot with the Orlando Miracle. Indiana won the tiebreaker and earned their first playoff appearance in franchise history.

May 29, 2003: First Sellout Game

On May 29, 2003, the Indiana Fever registered their first sellout of 18,345 and defeated the Washington Mystics on national television.

2003: Similar Campaign to 2004

In 2003, the Fever finished with a 15–19 record.

2004: Similar Campaign

The 2004 campaign was very similar to 2003's with the Fever finishing with a 15–19 record.

2005: Best Season and Playoff Victory

In 2005, the Indiana Fever had their best season since joining the league, posting a 21–13 record, and making the playoffs for just the second time. They swept the New York Liberty, earning their first playoff series victory. They lost to the Connecticut Sun in the Eastern Conference Finals.

2006: Looking to Improve Post Play

Going into the 2006–2007 off-season, the Fever looked to improve their post play.

2006: Offseason Acquisitions

In the 2005–2006 offseason, the Indiana Fever acquired All-Star Anna DeForge from the Phoenix Mercury and signed free agent Tamika Whitmore from the Los Angeles Sparks. In the 2006 WNBA draft they selected La'Tangela Atkinson and Kasha Terry.

2006: Playoff Appearance

The Indiana Fever started the 2006 season at 4–0 and made the playoffs for the second year in a row with a 21–13 record. Tamika Whitmore scored a WNBA Playoff record 41 points. They lost to Detroit in the first round.

March 22, 2007: Signing Tammy Sutton-Brown

On March 22, 2007, the Indiana Fever signed key Free Agent Center Tammy Sutton-Brown.

October 26, 2007: Brian Winters's Option Declined

On October 26, 2007, the Indiana Fever announced that they declined the option for head coach Brian Winters.

December 12, 2007: Lin Dunn Named Head Coach

On December 12, 2007, assistant coach Lin Dunn was named head coach of the Indiana Fever.

2007: Playoff Run and Catchings' Injury

In 2007, the Indiana Fever won 16 of their first 20 games, then key player Tamika Catchings injured her foot. They lost to the Detroit Shock in the Eastern Conference Finals after Catchings tore her Achilles tendon. The Fever's 22-point comeback against Connecticut Sun was the largest in WNBA Playoff history.

February 19, 2008: Trade for Katie Douglas

On February 19, 2008, the Indiana Fever traded Tamika Whitmore and their first-round pick for Indianapolis native Katie Douglas.

July 19, 2008: Liberty Outdoor Classic

On July 19, 2008, the Indiana Fever were part of the Liberty Outdoor Classic, the first regular-season professional basketball game played outdoors, winning the game, 71–55, against the New York Liberty at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

2008: Disappointing 2008 Season

After a disappointing 2008 season, Indiana Pacers owners said the Fever have been losing money.

2008: Struggling Season

During the 2008 season, the Fever finished with a 17–17 record and lost to the Detroit Shock in the first round of the playoffs.

2009: Fever to Remain in Indianapolis

Because of the success in 2009, the Fever announced they would remain in Indianapolis for 2010.

2009: WNBA Finals Appearance

In 2009, the Indiana Fever reached the WNBA Finals, but lost in game 5 to the Phoenix Mercury.

2009: Success on the Court

In 2009, the Indiana Fever reached the playoffs as the first seed overall in the Eastern Conference with a franchise best record of 22–12. The Fever then lost in 5 games to the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA Finals.

2010: Fever to Remain in Indianapolis for 2010

In 2010, The Fever announced they would remain in Indianapolis.

2011: Fever to Remain in Indianapolis for 2011

In 2011, The Fever announced they would remain in Indianapolis.

2012: Promotion of Kelly Krauskopf

After the Fever won the 2012 WNBA championship, Kelly Krauskopf was promoted to president of the franchise.

2012: Lin Dunn guides the Fever to a WNBA title

In 2012, Lin Dunn guided the Indiana Fever to a WNBA title as their coach. She later returned to the franchise as interim general manager and senior advisor on February 24, 2022.

2012: WNBA Championship Victory

In 2012, the Indiana Fever advanced to the WNBA Finals and defeated the Minnesota Lynx, 3 games to 1, winning their first WNBA title.

2015: Finals Appearance

In 2015, the Fever reached the finals for the third time in franchise history, but lost to the Minnesota Lynx in five games.

2015: Return to the WNBA Finals

In 2015, the Indiana Fever reached the WNBA Finals but lost to Minnesota in game 5.

November 18, 2016: Pokey Chatman Announced as Head Coach

On November 18, 2016, the Indiana Fever announced Pokey Chatman as their new head coach.

2016: Playoff Appearance and Catchings's Retirement

In 2016, the Indiana Fever made it to the playoffs for the 12th consecutive time. Tamika Catchings's final game marked the end of her playing career.

2016: Fever last playoff appearance

The 2024 season was the first time the Fever made the playoffs since 2016.

February 2017: Trade for Candice Dupree

In February 2017, the Fever traded for Candice Dupree along with the Mercury's 2017 first-round pick in a three-team deal.

August 12, 2017: Record Defeat

On August 12, 2017, the Indiana Fever were defeated 111–52 by the Minnesota Lynx, the largest margin of defeat in WNBA history. The Fever finished with the second-worst record in the league of 9–25.

2017: Chris Denari steps down as Play-by-Play Announcer

In 2017, Chris Denari stepped down from his position as the team's Play-by-Play Announcer, a role he had held since 2000.

2018: Last Place Finish

In 2018, the Indiana Fever finished in last place with a 6–28 record.

March 4, 2019: Allison Barber Announced

On March 4, 2019, Allison Barber was announced as the new president and chief operating officer of the Fever. Tamika Catchings was named vice president of Fever Basketball Operations.

November 27, 2019: Marianne Stanley Introduced as Head Coach

On November 27, 2019, Marianne Stanley was introduced as the head coach of the Indiana Fever. Tamika Catchings was promoted to general manager.

2019: Fever to move home games to Hinkle Fieldhouse

Near the end of the 2019 season, the Fever announced that they would move their home games to Butler University's Hinkle Fieldhouse for the 2020 and 2021 seasons, plus at least part of the 2022 season, to accommodate renovations of Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

2020: 2020 WNBA season played in IMG Academy due to COVID-19 pandemic

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 WNBA season was played in IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. This change impacted the Fever's plans to move home games to Hinkle Fieldhouse during the Bankers Life Fieldhouse renovations.

2021: Fever home games split between Bankers Life Fieldhouse and Indiana Farmers Coliseum

During the 2021 season, the Fever played their first four home games at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, before playing the remaining home games at Indiana Farmers Coliseum.

February 14, 2022: Tamika Catchings steps down as VP and GM

On February 14, 2022, Tamika Catchings stepped down from her role as the vice president of basketball operations and general manager of the Indiana Fever.

February 24, 2022: Lin Dunn introduced as interim general manager

On February 24, 2022, Lin Dunn, former Fever coach, was introduced as the franchise's interim general manager and senior advisor for Fever basketball operations.

2022: Fever to play at Hinkle Fieldhouse due to renovations

In 2019, the Fever announced that they would move their home games to Butler University's Hinkle Fieldhouse for at least part of the 2022 season, to accommodate renovations of Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

2022: Struggles and top draft pick earned

In 2022, the Indiana Fever struggled, leading them to earn the top WNBA draft pick after the season.

2023: Fever draft Aliyah Boston first overall

In 2023, the Fever chose South Carolina's Aliyah Boston with the number one pick in the WNBA draft, after struggling the previous season.

August 2024: Fever to host 2025 WNBA All-Star Game

In August 2024, the WNBA announced that the Fever would host the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game and related events in July 2025 for the first time in franchise history.

October 27, 2024: Fever part ways with head coach Christie Sides

On October 27, 2024, the Fever announced that they had parted ways with head coach Christie Sides, after a 33-47 record during her tenure.

November 1, 2024: Stephanie White returns as head coach

On November 1, 2024, the team announced that Stephanie White would return to the organization as head coach.

2024: Fever have dramatic turnaround and make playoffs

During the 2024 regular season, the Fever had a dramatic turnaround, going an even 20–20 and making their first playoffs since 2016. Clark averaged 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 8.4 assists per game, becoming the first ever true rookie to lead the WNBA in assists. Fever home games drew an average of over 17,000 fans.

2024: Fever draft Caitlin Clark first overall, leading to surge of interest

In 2024, the Indiana Fever chose Iowa's Caitlin Clark first overall in the WNBA draft. This led to a surge of interest in the team and the WNBA in general.

April 29, 2025: Tickets for All-Star weekend events sold out within seven hours

On April 29, 2025, tickets for the All-Star weekend events in July 2025 went on sale and sold out within seven hours.

July 2025: Fever to host 2025 WNBA All-Star Game

The WNBA announced in August 2024, that the Fever would host the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game and related events in July 2025 for the first time in franchise history.