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. Founded in 2000, the team is owned by Herb Simon, founder of Simon Property Group. They represent Indiana in the premier women's basketball league.
June 7, 1999: WNBA announces expansion franchise for Indiana
On June 7, 1999, the WNBA announced that Indiana was granted an expansion franchise, coinciding with the opening of Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
December 15, 1999: WNBA expansion draft held
On December 15, 1999, the WNBA held an expansion draft for the Indiana Fever, Miami Sol, Portland Fire, and Seattle Storm.
1999: Logo Creation
In 1999, the Indiana Fever logo was created 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 founded
In 2000, the Indiana Fever team was founded. The launch campaign included the slogan "In 49 states it's just basketball, but this is Indiana."
2001: Tamika Catchings misses season
In 2001, Tamika Catchings missed the entire WNBA season due to tearing her ACL during a college game. The Fever posted a 10–22 record in 2001.
2001: Tamika Catchings drafted, misses season due to injury
In 2001, the Indiana Fever drafted University of Tennessee star Tamika Catchings in the WNBA Draft. However, Catchings tore her ACL and missed the entire WNBA season, resulting in a 10–22 record for the Fever in 2001.
2002: Fever add Natalie Williams and Kelly Miller
During the 2002-2003 offseason, the Fever added Olympian Natalie Williams and Charlotte Sting star Kelly Miller.
2002: Tamika Catchings becomes Fever's franchise player
Since 2002, Tamika Catchings had been known as the Fever's franchise player.
2002: Catchings wins Rookie of the Year; Fever make playoffs
The 2002 season was a breakout season for Tamika Catchings, who won Rookie of the Year honors and made the WNBA All-Star team. The Fever posted a 16–16 record and earned their first playoff appearance in franchise history in 2002, losing to the Liberty in the first round.
May 29, 2003: Fever register first sellout
On May 29, 2003, the Indiana Fever recorded their first sellout with 18,345 attendees and defeated the Washington Mystics on national television.
2003: Fever miss the playoffs
In 2003, the Fever missed the playoffs, posting a 16–18 record.
2004: Fever finish with 15–19 record
In 2004, the Fever finished with a 15–19 record and missed the playoffs by one game in the Eastern Conference.
2005: Fever acquire Anna DeForge
During the 2005-2006 offseason, the Fever acquired All-Star Anna DeForge from the Phoenix Mercury in exchange for Kelly Miller.
2005: Fever have best season and win first playoff series
In 2005, the 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 in the first round for their first playoff series win, but lost to the Connecticut Sun in the Eastern Conference Finals.
2006: Fever add Sheri Sam
Going into the 2006–2007 off-season, the Fever added veteran forward Sheri Sam from the Charlotte Sting in the Dispersal Draft.
2006: Fever make playoffs, Whitmore scores 41 points
In 2006, the Fever started the season 4-0 and made the playoffs for the second year in a row. Tamika Whitmore scored a WNBA Playoff record 41 points in Game 2 against Detroit, but Detroit won the series.
2006: Fever draft La'Tangela Atkinson and Kasha Terry
In the 2006 WNBA draft the Fever selected athletic swing-forward La'Tangela Atkinson from the North Carolina Tar Heels along with Kasha Terry from the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
March 22, 2007: Fever Sign Free Agent Tammy Sutton-Brown
On March 22, 2007, the Fever signed key Free Agent Center Tammy Sutton-Brown.
October 26, 2007: Fever decline option for Brian Winters
On October 26, 2007, the Fever announced that they declined the option for head coach Brian Winters, ending his four-year tenure.
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: Catchings Injured; Fever lose to Shock in Conference Finals
In 2007, the Fever started strong but Tamika Catchings' foot injury caused her to miss the rest of the regular season. The Fever lost to the Detroit Shock in the Eastern Conference Finals after Catchings tore her Achilles tendon.
February 19, 2008: Fever trade for Katie Douglas
On February 19, 2008, in a major trade, the Indiana Fever traded Tamika Whitmore and their first-round pick in the 2008 WNBA draft for Indianapolis native Katie Douglas.
July 19, 2008: Fever participate in Liberty Outdoor Classic
On July 19, 2008, the Indiana Fever participated in the Liberty Outdoor Classic, the first regular-season professional basketball game played outdoors, defeating the New York Liberty 71-55 at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing, New York.
2008: Fever have disappointing season
After a disappointing season, the Fever struggled in 2008, and Pacers owners mentioned they had been losing money.
2009: Fever announce they would remain in Indianapolis
Because of the success in 2009, the Indiana Fever announced they would remain in Indianapolis for 2010.
2009: Fever reach WNBA Finals
In 2009, the Indiana Fever reached the WNBA Finals after a franchise best record of 22-12, but lost to the Phoenix Mercury in 5 games.
2010: Fever announce they would remain in Indianapolis for 2010.
In 2010, the Indiana Fever announced they would remain in Indianapolis.
2011: Fever announce they would remain in Indianapolis for 2011.
In 2011, the Indiana Fever announced they would remain in Indianapolis.
2012: Krauskopf promoted to president
After the Fever won the 2012 WNBA championship, general manager Kelly Krauskopf was promoted to president of the franchise.
2012: Lin Dunn guided Fever to WNBA Title
In 2012, Lin Dunn guided the Indiana Fever to a WNBA title.
2012: Fever win WNBA Finals
In 2012, the Indiana Fever won the WNBA Finals with a 3–1 series victory over the Minnesota Lynx. Tamika Catchings was named the 2012 Finals MVP.
2015: Fever reach the finals for the third time
In 2015, The Fever competed for another title, reaching the finals for the third time in franchise history, but fell short losing to the Minnesota Lynx in five games.
November 18, 2016: Pokey Chatman announced as new head coach
On November 18, 2016, the Indiana Fever announced Pokey Chatman as their new head coach.
2016: Fever make playoffs for 12th consecutive time
In 2016, the Fever made it to the playoffs for the 12th consecutive time. This game also marked the final game of Tamika Catchings's playing career; she had been known as the Fever's franchise player since 2002.
2016: First Playoffs since 2016
The Fever had a dramatic turnaround in the first season with Clark in 2024, going 20-20 during the regular season and making their first playoffs since 2016.
February 2017: Fever trade for Candice Dupree
In February 2017, the Indiana Fever traded for five-time all-star Candice Dupree along with the Mercury's 2017 first-round pick in a three-team deal.
2017: Chris Denari Steps Down
In 2017, Chris Denari stepped down from his role as the team's Play-by-Play Announcer, a position he had held since 2000.
2018: Fever finish in last place
In 2018, the Fever finished in last place with a 6–28 record.
March 4, 2019: Barber named president, Catchings named VP
On March 4, 2019, Pacers Sports & Entertainment announced Allison Barber as the new president and chief operating officer of the Fever, while Tamika Catchings was named vice president of Fever Basketball Operations.
November 27, 2019: Marianne Stanley introduced as head coach; Catchings promoted to GM
On November 27, 2019, Marianne Stanley was introduced as the head coach of the Indiana Fever, and Tamika Catchings was promoted to general manager.
2019: Fever to move home games to Hinkle Fieldhouse
Near the end of the 2019 season, the Indiana Fever announced they would move their home games to Butler University's Hinkle Fieldhouse for the 2020, 2021, and part of the 2022 seasons to accommodate renovations of Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
2020: 2020 WNBA Season played in IMG Academy
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 WNBA season was played in IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
2021: Fever played at Bankers Life Fieldhouse and Indiana Farmers Coliseum
For the 2021 season, the Indiana 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 Stepped Down
On February 14, 2022, Tamika Catchings stepped down 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, former Fever coach Lin Dunn, who guided the team to a WNBA title in 2012, was introduced as the franchise's interim general manager and senior advisor for Fever basketball operations.
2022: Fever to move home games to Hinkle Fieldhouse
Near the end of the 2019 season, the Indiana Fever announced they would move their home games to Butler University's Hinkle Fieldhouse for part of the 2022 seasons to accommodate renovations of Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
2022: Struggles and Top Draft Pick
The Indiana Fever struggled in 2022 and earned the top WNBA draft pick after the season.
2023: Aliyah Boston drafted number one
In 2023, the Indiana Fever chose Aliyah Boston from South Carolina 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 Christie Sides
On October 27, 2024, the Indiana Fever announced that they had parted ways with head coach Christie Sides, who had a 33-47 record during her tenure.
November 1, 2024: Stephanie White Returns as Head Coach
On November 1, 2024, the Indiana Fever announced that Stephanie White would return to the organization as head coach.
2024: Caitlin Clark drafted first overall
In 2024, amidst the increasing popularity of collegiate women's basketball, 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.
2024: Dramatic Turnaround with Caitlin Clark
The Fever had a dramatic turnaround in the first season with Clark in 2024, going 20-20 during the regular season 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.
February 1, 2025: Fever Acquire Sophie Cunningham
Before the 2025 season, the Fever announced on February 1, 2025, that they had acquired Sophie Cunningham from the Phoenix Mercury.
April 29, 2025: Tickets for All-Star Weekend Sell Out
On April 29, 2025, tickets for All-Star weekend events went on sale and sold out within seven hours.
July 2025: 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.
2026: New Practice Facility
In 2026, the Indiana Fever announced that they were acquiring a new $78 million practice facility in Downtown Indianapolis. The land was acquired via a no-bid process, sparking some criticism.
2026: Fever Select Raven Johnson in WNBA Draft
The Indiana Fever acquired the tenth pick in the 2026 WNBA draft and, with only one lottery pick, selected Raven Johnson from South Carolina.
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