Indiana University Women’s Basketball Player Grace Berger selected 7th overall by the Indiana Fever in the WNBA Draft Grace Berger has made it two years in a row for IU Women’s Basketball in the WNBA Draft. The Louisville native was selected by Indiana Fever with the No. 7 overall pick. She’s the first Hoosier to ever be selected in the first round of the WNBA Draft. Berger joins Ali Patberg (2022 third-round pick), Jori Davis (2011 third-round pick), Jill Chapman (2002 second round), and Quacy Barnes (1998 third round) as the only IU players picked in the WNBA Draft. Berger finished her career seventh on the program’s all-time scoring list with 1,841 points, and she ranks second in assists with 573 assists. Her 118 career wins is the most in Indiana history.
Berger, who opted to use her extra year of eligibility (COVID), averaged 12.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists in 2022-23, leading Indiana to a 28-5 finish that included a Big Ten regular-season title and a No. 1-seed in the NCAA tournament (a program first). Nicknamed the “Midrange Queen” by her teammates, Berger drew comparisons to Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki from Miami coach Katie Meier and shot 48.4% from the floor a career-best 40.7% from 3 in her final season. Berger’s shooting prowess speaks for itself, but it’s her versatility and development as a point guard this season that caught the Fever’s attention.
Indiana Fever Selected South Carolina Forward/Center Aliyah Boston with the first overall pick in Monday’s WNBA Draft. The second South Carolina Gamecock to be drafted first overall (A’ja Wilson in 2018), Boston was projected as a No. 1 overall pick before she even officially declared for the draft. A three-time first-team All-American, two-time Naismith defensive player of the year honoree and 2022 national player of the year, Boston averaged 14.1 points and 10.8 rebounds over her four seasons, guiding South Carolina to a 129-9 record that included three consecutive Final Four appearances and a national championship in 2022. She was at the forefront of the Gamecocks’ 36-1 finish to this season, which culminated in a Final Four berth.
Indiana University Men’s Basketball lands Oregon Transfer Kel’el Ware
One of the top players in the transfer portal will be an Indiana Hoosier. Oregon transfer Kel’el Ware, a 7-foot center, committed to the Hoosiers Monday. Ware, who does not turn 19 until April 20, averaged 6.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 15.8 minutes last season for the Ducks. He started four of the team’s 35 games. Assistant coach Yasir Rosemond played a crucial role in developing a relationship with Ware and his family, leading to an official visit on April 6-7.
The No. 6 ranked prospect in the class of 2022 according to the Recruiting Services Consensus Index (RSCI), Ware will be the highest-ranked RSCI player to put on the IU uniform since Romeo Langford (No. 5 in 2018 class). Ware has three years of eligibility remaining but is squarely on the NBA radar. A strong season as a sophomore in Bloomington could propel him to enter the 2024 NBA draft, which is considered a down class compared to 2023. With a versatile game that extends out to the 3-point line, Ware should complement Malik Reneau well and Mike Woodson should be able to start the duo together.
As a freshman, the 7-footer made 15 3-pointers at Oregon. Indiana has significant frontcourt production to replace following the departures of Trayce Jackson-Davis and Race Thompson. Reserves Jordan Geronimo and Logan Duncomb also entered the transfer portal this spring. A native of North Little Rock, Arkansas, Ware committed to Oregon in August of 2021 and signed a National Letter of Intent with the Ducks in November of 2021. He helped lead North Little Rock High School to consecutive state championships with teammate Nick Smith Jr. At North Little Rock, Ware averaged 21.2 points, 12 rebounds and 5.7 blocks per game as a senior. He was a McDonald’s All-American and was also a Jordan Brand All-Star. He was one of just 10 players to be selected for the USA Basketball Nike Hoop Summit team in 2022. Ware scored in double figures eight times as a freshman at Oregon with a season-high 18 points in 26 minutes against national champion UConn on November 24. He also had 17 points against Michigan State on November 26 and 13 points against Villanova on November 27.
Former Indiana Men’s Basketball Player Race Thompson to play in Portsmouth Invitational
As it was announced Monday afternoon via Bleacher Report’s Lead Scout/NBA Draft Insider Jonathan Wasserman, former Indiana forward Race Thompson will be participating in the annual Portsmouth Invitational. Thompson, who completed his sixth season playing for Indiana, averaged 7.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and shot 51.1 percent in 130 total career games for the Hoosiers. Thompson came into Indiana in 2017 and originally played 4 years under former head coach Archie Miller before playing his final two seasons with current Indiana head coach Mike Woodson. Thompson will be on a team that consists of: Jake Stephens (Chattanooga), Tevian Jones (Southern Utah), Umoja Gibson (DePaul), Pete Nance (North Carolina), Justice Sueing (Ohio State), Rasir Bolton (Gonzaga), and Tyger Campbell (UCLA).
As players who have graduated and aren’t currently on track to be drafted in the 2023 NBA Class, this is another opportunity for players such as Thompson earn camp invites that could potentially lead to NBA Combine Invitations as was seen from a few players last year. The 69th annual Portsmouth Invitational Tournament will take place in Portsmouth, Virginia starting this Wednesday, April 12th with the championship game taking place on Saturday, April 15th. Each year since 1953, the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament has hosted 64 seniors and given them a chance to play in front professional basketball scouts. Over the years, player such as Scottie Pippen, Jimmy Butler, Dennis Rodman, and others have all participated in this event.
Indianapolis Indians Infielder Tucupita Marcano named International League Player of the Week
Minor League Baseball and the Indianapolis Indians announced Monday that infielder Tucupita Marcano has been named the International League Player of the Week after swinging a scorching bat at Louisville from April 4-9. Marcano, 23, led all professional baseball players with five doubles over the past week. In the International League, he paced qualifiers with a .526 batting average (10-for-19), 1.053 slugging percentage, 1.603 OPS and seven extra-base hits in five games at Louisville Slugger Field. He also tied for the league lead in hits, total bases (20) and runs (seven). On April 7, he roped a Victory Field era-tying three doubles for the first time since Josh Bell on June 11, 2016.
The middle infielder is currently working a seven-game hitting streak with a .500 batting average (14-for-28), seven doubles and nine RBI to begin the season. His seven doubles are tied with Toronto’s Matt Chapman for the most two-baggers in professional baseball. Marcano was originally signed by San Diego as a non-drafted free agent on July 2, 2016 and went on to make his major league debut on April 1, 2021. He was traded to Pittsburgh on July 26, 2021 with right-hander Michell Miliano and outfielder Jack Suwinski in exchange for infielder Adam Frazier and cash. He is Indianapolis’ first Player of the Week since Rodolfo Castro on Sept. 27, 2021.
2023 Indiana Fever Single Game tickets are on sale
Tickets for Indiana Fever home games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the 24th season went on sale to the general public Monday afternoon beginning at 2pm. Additional information can be found by visiting Indiana Fever Ticket Central. The Fever will play 20 home games this year for the first time since the WNBA expanded to a 40-game regular season schedule, which also features a preseason game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday, May 13 against the Dallas Wings. The regular season tips off on Friday, May 19 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse against the Connecticut Sun at 7pm. Theme Nights for this year’s promotional schedule include:
Friday, May 19 – Opening Night, presented by IvyTech,
Sunday, June 4 – Pride Game, presented by Salesforce
Sunday, June 11 – Rebel Game
Sunday, June 18 – Juneteenth Celebration, presented by Bank of America Sunday, July 9 – Rebel Game
Wednesday, July 12 – Kid’s Day
Sunday, July 30 – Dad’s & Daughters Day, presented by Indiana Army National Guard
Tuesday, August 1 – Rebel Game
Friday, August 4 – Fever Fashion Night Sunday, August 13 – Rebel Game, presented by Sport Graphics
Thursday, August 24 – Rebel Game
Sunday, August 27 – Breast Health Awareness, presented by Ascension St. Vincent
Sunday, September 10 – Fan Appreciation
The full 2023 regular season schedule can be viewed here. For the fourth consecutive season, the Indiana Fever will continue to livestream games for fans statewide, as well as in Ohio and Kentucky, on the Indiana Fever’s Official Facebook account. The full broadcast schedule will be released ahead of the regular season.
Indianapolis Colts sign Tight End Pharaoh Brown
The Indianapolis Colts signed unrestricted free agent tight end Pharaoh Brown on Monday. Brown, 6-5, 246 pounds, has played in 55 career games (36 starts) in his time with the Cleveland Browns (2018-19, 2022), Houston Texans (2020-22) and Oakland Raiders (2017) and has tallied 51 receptions for 478 yards and two touchdowns. He was originally signed by the Raiders as an undrafted free agent out of Oregon. In 2022, Brown appeared in 16 total games (eight starts) with the Browns and Texans and compiled 12 receptions for 117 yards.
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