Indiana Fever’s Aliyah Boston named WNBA Rookie of the Month for June
Indiana Fever center Aliyah Boston was named the WNBA Rookie of the Month for June, the league announced Wednesday. After winning the first Rookie of the Month in May, Boston is now the first player in franchise history to win multiple Rookie of the Month awards. The last three Rookie of the Year winners in 2022 (Rhyne Howard), 2021 (Michaela Onyenwere) and 2020 (Crystal Dangerfield) all were awarded every Rookie of the Month recognition during their first season.
In June, Boston averaged 15.1 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists,1.5 blocks and 30.5 minutes per contest in 11 games and has started every game in her WNBA career. Boston still leads the WNBA in field goal percentage shooting 61.8 percent (94-of-152) and leads all rookies in scoring, rebounds, blocks and minutes per game. Boston scored in double figures in seven of 11 games played in June, highlighted on June 18 against Atlanta, Boston tied a career-high with 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting, to go along with a career-best four blocked shots. She earlier scored 25 points to go along with 11 rebounds at Chicago on June 6.
Indiana University’s Camden Marshall competes at the Toyota USTAF Championships
Camden Marshall the Big Ten Champion over 800 meters, will head to Oregon this weekend to compete against America’s best athletes in search of a bid to this summer’s World Athletics Championships in Budapest. The USATF Outdoor Championships, to be held in Eugene from Today through Sunday and will determine the United States’ three bids in each event to the World Championships in August. Defending world champions and 2022 Diamond League winners will be offered automatic wild card spots.
The Corydon, Ind. native is among 32 accepted entries in the men’s 800 meters this weekend. The first round will be contested today with a semifinal of 16 athletes set for Friday. The final is set for Sunday evening at 9:27 PM ET/6:27 PM PT. Based off qualifying marks, Marshall’s 1:46.57, run at the Big Ten Championships, is the 16th-fastest time in the field. Only two athletes, Will Sumner and Bryce Hoppel, have run under the World Championships qualifying standard of 1:44.70 this season.
Schedule of Events: First Round: Today, July 6th (5:52 PM ET/2:52 PM PT), Semifinal: Friday, July 7th (9:10 PM ET/6:10 PM PT) and Final: Sunday, July 9th (9:27 PM ET/6:27 PM PT).
Indiana Fever’s Kelsey Mitchell named WNBA All Star
Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell was named a reserve for the 2023 WNBA All-Star Game. Mitchell and this year’s All-Star Game reserves were selected by the league’s head coaches. The sixth-year guard, who has spent her entire WNBA career with Indiana, will join Fever rookie center Aliyah Boston at the 2023 WNBA All-Star Game in Las Vegas at Michelob Ultra Arena, on Saturday, July 15 on ABC at 8:30pm. This season marks the 10th time in franchise history the Fever will send multiple players to the same WNBA All-Star Game. Captains A’ja Wilson from the Las Vegas Aces and Breanna Stewart from the New York Liberty, who received the most fan votes, will draft their respective rosters by selecting first from the remaining eight players in the pool of starters and then from the pool of 12 reserves. ESPN will broadcast the WNBA All-Star Team Selection Special on Saturday, July 8 at 1pm.
In 15 games this season, Mitchell is averaging a team-best 17.0 points, 2.5 assists, 1.3 rebounds and 33.3 minutes per game while shooting 40.7 percent from the field and 83.9 percent from the free throw line. Entering this weekend, Mitchell ranks third in the WNBA in most made 3-point field goals (38). She has scored in double figures in 14 of 15 games played this season and recorded five 20-point outings already. Mitchell’s game-winning field goal at the Chicago Sky on June 15 also helped the Fever earn a 92-90 victory at Wintrust Arena. In 2023, Mitchell has continued to rise in the Fever record books, which now includes her as the No. 2 overall scorer in franchise history (2,683 points), second in franchise history for field goals made (940) and second in made 3-point field goals (385).
It was announced in June that Mitchell was also awarded the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award for her positive impact and dedication in the community. The award, which is named in honor of WNBA legend and Hall of Famer Dawn Staley, was created to recognize a WNBA player who best exemplifies the characteristics of a leader in the community where they work or live. Mitchell’s influence in the Cincinnati community, where she grew up before attending Ohio State University in Columbus, has been immeasurable and has translated into her commitment to the Indianapolis community and the state of Indiana as a member of the Fever.
The full list of previous Indiana Fever All-Star selections is below:
| FEVER PLAYER | ALL-STAR SELECTIONS |
| Aliyah Boston | 2023* |
| Tamika Catchings | 2002*, 2003*, 2005*, 2006*, 2007*, 2009*, 2011*, 2013*, 2014*, 2015* |
| Marissa Coleman | 2015 |
| Anna DeForge | 2007* |
| Katie Douglas | 2009*, 2011* |
| Candice Dupree | 2017, 2019 |
| Briann January | 2014 |
| Kelsey Mitchell | 2023 |
| Tammy Sutton-Brown | 2007 |
| Erica Wheeler | 2019^ |
| Tamika Whitmore | 2006 |
| Natalie Williams | 2003 |
| Rita Williams | 2001 |
| Shavonte Zellous | 2013 |
| * – Starter ^ – All-Star Game MVP |
Four Indiana University Field Hockey players selected for the 2023 Senior Nexus Championships
Four Indiana Field Hockey student-athletes were selected to compete at the 2023 Senior Nexus Championships (NXC). Indiana’s Anna Mozeleski, Kylie Dawson, Sydney Keld and Shannon McNally were all selected to compete in the event. McNally was selected to compete as an alternate. The event will take place from July 11-16 at the Virginia Beach Regional Training Center in Virginia Beach, Va. The first day will consist of a team training session with games starting on July 12.
The Senior National Championships feature 144 elite high school, collegiate and post-collegiate athletes. During the spring and early summer, athletes trialed and trained at one of the seven USA Field Hockey High Performance Centers throughout the country for an opportunity to be selected to the Senior NXC. The Senior NXC is considered a vital step along the Olympic Development Pathway program. All athletes that were previously named to the U.S. U-18, U-21, and Development Women’s National Teams were also included within the selection.
Indianapolis Indians to launch “University Nights” to introduce NIL Class of 2023
The Indianapolis Indians announced “University Nights” as a new promotion for select Thursday home games at Victory Field. University Nights with select universities from Indiana will feature student-athletes who will receive Circle City merchandise, customized jerseys and more, making them part of the Indians’ inaugural NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) Class of 2023. “Our organization is happy to introduce its inaugural NIL Class of 2023 through University Nights at Victory Field,” said Randy Lewandowski, Indianapolis Indians president and general manager. “We are excited to celebrate the successes and elevate the personal brands of student-athletes who represent their respective school and community in a positive way both on and off the field.”
Two University Nights are on the calendar for July. University Night with Butler University is set for this evening and includes an appearance by student-athlete John-Michael Mulloy from the men’s basketball team. Mulloy, a forward/center and graduate senior from Carmel, Ind., led Carmel High School to an IHSAA Class 4A State title in 2019. During his appearance on July 6, Mulloy will sign autographs for fans in the Center Field Plaza from 6-6:40 PM. He will then take the field to throw a ceremonial first pitch before participating in an in-game “Slam Dunk” promotion and radio interview with the Indians’ broadcast team.
University Night with Purdue University is scheduled for Thursday, July 27. More information about student-athletes appearing for that game will be released in the coming weeks. Single-game tickets are available along with group and premium reservations. For more on the Indians, visit IndyIndians.com or contact the Victory Field Box Office at (317) 269-3545 or Tickets@IndyIndians.com.
Indiana Fever fall to the Chicago Sky
The Indiana Fever (5-11) erased a 14-point second-half deficit against Chicago, but ultimately fell for the second time this season against the Sky, 89-87 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Second-year Fever forward NaLyssa Smith led Indiana in scoring with 27 points on 11-of-16 shooting from the floor for her fourth 20-point outing of the season, to go along with a team-high eight rebounds. After being presented with the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award prior to the game, Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell recorded a season-high 26 points, dished out a season-high eight assists and pulled down four rebounds. The newly named WNBA All-Star selection totaled 18 of her 26 points in the first half on 8-of-10 shooting. Mitchell is now at 499 career assists. Erica Wheeler and Kristy Wallace also pitched in nine and seven points respectively. Former IU Star Grace Berger knocked down a three pointer in her only attempt from the field and dished out an assist in four minutes of action.
Both teams opened the matchup with hot starts, as Indiana shot 50 percent (6-of-12) and Chicago shot 55.6 percent (5-of-9) from the floor within the first five minutes. Mitchell caught fire midway through the quarter, recording 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting, and Smith followed behind pitching in six points and four rebounds. The first quarter, which featured four lead changes, ended with Indiana trailing Chicago, 22-21. Indiana’s second quarter offense was supported by seven players who contributed in the scoring column, as they collectively shot 66.7 percent (10-of-15) from the floor in the second frame. The pursuit for the lead was a team effort, as the Fever dished out seven assists and went a perfect 3-of-3 from behind the three-point arc. Chicago led for the majority of the second quarter and ended the first half leading 54-47.
The Fever continued to reduce the deficit in the third quarter, outscoring Chicago, 20-18, over the next 10 minutes. Wheeler and Smith aided the comeback effort, as Smith pitched in eight points and Wheeler chipped in seven points on 3-of-4 shooting before the third frame ended with Chicago ahead, 72-67. Continuing from the third quarter, Indiana sustained a 19-6 scoring run that lasted until the 6:43 mark in the fourth quarter to tie the game, 74-74. After an Indiana 3-point field goal from Smith to tie the game up again at the 1:07 mark, 87-87, Sky guard Courtney Williams made a jump shot to put Chicago ahead by two with 18.1 seconds on the clock. Maya Caldwell and Mitchell both had favorable looks to take the lead at the end of regulation but could not convert.
For Chicago, the Sky shot a collective 50 percent (34-of-68) from the floor and 42.9 percent from behind the three-point arc (12-of-28) in Emre Vatansever’s first win as interim head coach. Courtney Williams led all scorers as she notched a season-high 28 points on 12-of-17 shooting from the floor, with 15 of her 28 points coming in the second quarter alone. Williams also dished out eight assists and pulled down five rebounds. In addition, Elizabeth Williams and Marina Mabrey pitched in 17 points and six assists each, while Kahleah Copper added 15 points. Williams and Mitchell’s performances marked only the second time in WNBA history and first in game that ended in regulation two players recorded at least 25 points, eight rebounds and four assists in the same game, per Across the Timeline. The Fever outscored the Sky 54-30 in the paint, and Indiana’s reserves outscored the Sky bench, 21-12.
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