The newest addition to the Fever, Brianna Turner, arrived in Indiana this previous week and spoke candidly about what she thinks she will convey to the group of their pursuit of a championship. Whereas Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, and Aliyah Boston will proceed to spearhead the Fever, the rotation gamers round them may very well be what elevates Indiana to a title.
“I believe I’m a relaxing presence,” Turner stated, per the Fever. “I really feel like I by no means get too excessive, by no means get too low…however I’m actually aggressive as effectively. I wish to run the ground, wish to play protection, wish to win. And I believe the Fever was the place to be if I wished to win.”
An elite defender, she’ll immediately be capable to elevate the Fever’s protection, which ranked close to the underside of the league final season. That protection is bound to enhance this yr, with sturdy defensive gamers like DeWanna Bonner and Natasha Howard becoming a member of the roster in free company. New Fever head coach Stephanie White additionally brings a powerful defensive mindset; her Connecticut Solar groups routinely ranked close to the highest of the league defensively.
Turner, a 6’3 energy ahead, was twice named to the WNBA All-Defensive First Workforce (in 2020 and 2021) and was a member of the All-Rookie crew in 2019.
Whereas she’s anticipated to return off the bench for Indiana, her defensive strengths ought to nonetheless elevate the Fever as they pursue a championship.
How Brianna Turner obtained right here
The 28-year-old veteran most lately performed for the Chicago Sky, the place she got here off the bench and averaged 9.4 minutes per recreation. Earlier than that, she spent 5 years with the Phoenix Mercury, the place she was a starter for many of her profession.
For her profession, Turner has averaged 4.6 factors and 6.3 rebounds on 58.3% taking pictures in 24.6 minutes per recreation. She was a free agent this winter and opted to signal a 1-year, $85,000 contract with the Fever, who had already added key items after their first postseason look in 7 years.
Turned arrived in Indianapolis final week, and the Fever launched footage of Turner understanding alongside Clark quickly after.
The place the Indiana Fever are coming into subsequent season
Indiana is coming off a 20-20 season that noticed them make the playoffs for the primary time since 2016.
The membership was led by Rookie of the 12 months Caitlin Clark, who was named to the All-WNBA First Workforce after averaging 19.2 factors, 8.4 assists, and 5.7 rebounds on the yr. Kelsey Mitchell, the group’s longest-tenured participant, additionally had a profession yr — averaging 19.2 factors and taking pictures 40.2% from three. Aliyah Boston, who was the Fever’s Rookie of the 12 months the prior, averaged 14 factors and 98.9 rebounds.
This offseason, Indiana added veteran guard Sydney Colson by way of free company from the Las Vegas Aces, DeWanna Bonner by way of free company from the Connecticut Solar, Natasha Howard by way of free company from the Dallas Wings, and Sophie Cunningham by way of commerce from the Phoenix Mercury.
“The entrance workplace and the employees simply actually had a imaginative and prescient in place,” Turner stated. “And I felt that I may actually praise their imaginative and prescient.”