Indiana Fever Snap Eight Game losing streak with a road win over the Washington Mystics
The Indiana Fever (6-15) ended an eight-game losing skid with an 82-76 win on Wednesday afternoon against the Mystics in front of the largest crowd for a WNBA game this season. Indiana’s leading scorer Kelsey Mitchell notched 18 points in the win on a 7-of-13 shooting clip to go along with a team-high five assists and four steals. With her 18 points, Mitchell earned her 136th career double-figures scoring game, which surpassed Katie Douglas’ 135 games to take sole possession of second place for most double-figure games in Fever history. Mitchell’s stat line also marks the first time a Fever player has recorded at least 15 points, five assists and four steals since Briann January in 2014, per Across the Timeline.
Fever forward Emma Cannon came off the bench to contribute 13 points and five rebounds. In addition, Victoria Vivians and Aliyah Boston each pitched in 11 points, Erica Wheeler added 10 points, and Amanda Zahui B tied a season-high seven points. Former Indiana University Basketball star Grace Berger scored 3 points in 22 minutes of action. Berger was 1-3 from the field and 1-2 from downtown along with 3 rebounds, 3 assists and a turnover. Six Fever players pulled down at least three rebounds, highlighted by Boston’s eight rebounds, and five players dished out at least three assists. In addition, Vivians, Mitchell, Wheeler, Zahui B and Cannon combined for a perfect 13-of-13 from the charity stripe.
Washington took the lead early as it opened the game with a 12-4 scoring run, but Indiana was quick to respond with a 7-0 scoring run of its own. The Fever had six players contribute to the eventual 19-8 scoring run in the first quarter, highlighted by Mitchell’s nine points on 4-of-5 shooting from the floor. Boston also added six points on a perfect 3-of-3 shooting clip. The first frame ended with the Fever leading, 26-21. Indiana held Washington to 33.3 percent (6-of-18) from the floor in the second frame, but were outscored, 15-13, heading into halftime. Vivians led the way for the Fever as she contributed six points on a perfect 2-of-2 shooting clip from beyond the three-point arc. After a quarter of six lead changes, Indiana came out of the first half ahead, 39-36.
The Fever gave away their lead halfway through the third quarter, but after roughly four minutes, Indiana was able to reduce the deficit and reclaim the lead after closing the third frame on a 9-0 scoring run. The run started at the 2:11 mark in the third quarter and would be stretched to 15-0 through the 7:23 mark in the fourth quarter and would eventually extend to 25-9 roughly four minutes later. Guided by Cannon’s eight points and Wheeler’s six points, the Fever extended the lead to as many as 11 points in the final frame and successfully closed out the game for the first win on the road against Washington since 2016. The Fever stay on the road and will take on the New York Liberty on Sunday at 3pm. Sunday’s game will be broadcast on the official Indiana Fever Facebook page and on NBA TV.
For Washington, the Mystics were led by Natasha Cloud’s 19 points and Tianna Hawkins’ 13 points. Queen Egbo tied a season-high 10 points on 5-of-5 shooting from the floor to go along with five rebounds and three blocks. Brittney Sykes contributed nine points and a game-high seven assists. Washington shot a season-low 71.4 percent (10-of-14) from the free-throw line on Wednesday.
Indiana University Water Polo extends Head Coach Taylor McInerney and promotes Candyce Schroeder to Associate Head Coach
Indiana University and Indiana head water polo coach Taylor McInerney have agreed to a five-year contract extension through 2027-28 while Candyce Schroeder has been elevated to associate head coach. McInerney enters her fifth season as head coach in 2024, coming off a season in 2023 as she led the program to its most wins since 2018. Her Hoosier programs have been consistently ranked in the CWPA Top 25 poll during her tenure while securing wins in the MPSF Tournament for the past two seasons. She has helped guide five players to nine ACWPC All-American honors, four players to six All-MPSF teams and a total of 37 MPSF All-Academic team honorees. McInerney spent two seasons as assistant coach before being elevated to head coach in 2019-20. She is also an assistant coach with the USA youth national team through 2024. “I am honored and humbled by the support of our athletic department, and for the opportunity to continue leading our growing program,” McInerney said. “This is not an opportunity I take lightly and want to thank Scott Dolson for his support.”
Schroeder enters her third season with the Hoosiers, returning to her alma mater under McInerney in 2021. She primarily works with the team’s centers and heads up the program’s recruiting efforts. Additionally, Schroeder oversees the scout team and leads player film sessions. Under her instruction, three players have earned a combined seven ACWPC All-American honors and three All-MPSF selections. “IU Athletics provides world class resources for our student athletes that are truly unrivaled in women’s water polo,” McInerney said. “This includes the promotion of Candcye Schroeder on our staff. Candyce first elevated the team as an athlete, and now aids to our success a masterfully tactful, supportive and well-respected coach. We will continue to strive for success and aim to improve every single day.”
Fromer Indiana University Men’s Basketball player Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell to sign with Shanghai Sharks in China
The next step in Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell’s professional career will take place in China. The former Indiana point guard is on the verge of signing with the Shanghai Sharks, according to a report from Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews. Following a five-year NBA career, Ferrell spent the last two seasons with Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana in Slovenia, and Urbonas reported that several EuroLeague teams had interest in Ferrell. Instead, Ferrell will join a Shanghai Sharks team that made the CBA quarterfinals last season with American basketball players Eric Bledsoe, Michael Beasley, Johnny O’Bryant, Melo Trimble and Jamaal Franklin. The 2023-24 season will be Ferrell’s eighth year as a professional basketball player following a successful career at Indiana.
The 6-foot point guard from Indianapolis played four seasons at Indiana and was a two-time All-Big Ten player. As a freshman in 2012-13, he started all 36 games for a Tom Crean-coached squad that ranked No. 1 in the nation for 10 weeks and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament before losing in the Sweet 16. Across Ferrell’s final three seasons in Bloomington, he averaged at least 16 points and shot over 40 percent from 3-point range each year. As a senior, Ferrell led the Hoosiers to another Big Ten Title and Sweet 16 appearance. He averaged a career-high 17.3 points, 5.6 assists and 1.1 steals on 42 percent 3-point shooting in 2015-16, was named to the Big Ten All-Defensive team and earned All-American honors from The Sporting News, USA Today, CBS Sports and the Associated Press. Ferrell graduated as Indiana’s all-time leader in assists with 633, along with two Big Ten titles and two Sweet 16 appearances. Trayce Jackson-Davis passed him on the program’s all-time scoring list last season, moving Ferrell to seventh. He is the only IU player to ever lead his team in assists during all four seasons that he played.
Following his Indiana career, Ferrell went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft, but signed a contract with the Brooklyn Nets. He finished his rookie year with the Dallas Mavericks and was named to the 2016-17 NBA All-Rookie team, averaging 10.0 points and 3.7 assists. Ferrell played 82 games for the Mavericks in 2017-18 and averaged double-digit points for his second consecutive season in the NBA. Over the next three seasons, Ferrell moved around from the Sacramento Kings to the Cleveland Cavaliers and finally the Los Angeles Clippers. For his career, Ferrell played in 259 NBA games, made 53 starts and averaged 7.7 points on 36.5 percent 3-point shooting.
Ten Former Indiana University Men’s Basketball players are competing in The Basketball Tournament
The Basketball Tournament a 64-team, single-elimination tournament with a $1 million prize began Wednesday night. While Indiana does not have an alumni-based team participating like some schools, 10 former Hoosiers are scattered throughout various rosters. Current NBA players are not allowed to play, but The Basketball Tournament is filled with former pro and college stars. Games will first take place at regional locations in Louisville, Ky., Wheeling, W.Va., Syracuse, N.Y., Dayton, Ohio, Lubbock, Texas and Cincinnati, Ohio, with the Super Regional in Wichita, Kan. and the championship in Philadelphia, Pa. The Basketball Tournament began on Wednesday and concludes on Aug. 3. Games will be broadcast on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN-plus. There are two Indiana Based teams that are playing in the tournament. The Fort Wayne Champs based out of Fort Wayne will play the Bucketneers which is the East Tennessee State Alumni team on Friday at 3pm in the Xavier Regional. The Men of Mackey which is the Purdue Alumni Team will play Wednesday at 3pm against the Team Colorado which is the University of Colorado Alumni team in Dayton Ohio.
Here are the 10 former Hoosiers competing in the 10th edition of The Basketball Tournament.
Freddie McSwain Jr., JUCO Products-McSwain Jr. will fittingly play for the JUCO Products in The Basketball Tournament. He began his college basketball career at Neosho County Community College in Chanute, Kan. before transferring to Indiana for his final two seasons. As a Hoosier, the 6-foot-6 forward played 62 games with nine starts across two seasons under coach Tom Crean and Archie Miller. He averaged 4.2 points and 4.5 rebounds as a senior. They play Heart Fire at Noon today on ESPN2 in the Wichita Regional.
Parker Stewart, B1 Ballers- Stewart transferred from UT-Martin to Indiana in the middle of Archie Miller’s last season coaching the Hoosiers. The 6-foot-5 guard sat out his first year in Bloomington during the 2020-21 season, then started 31 of 24 games during coach Mike Woodson’s first season in 2021-22. Stewart averaged 6.2 points and led the Hoosiers in 3-point shooting percentage (39.3) and total threes made (53). Stewart transferred back to UT-Martin to finish his career. They play the Wichita State Alumni Team that is called Aftershocks at 9pm tonight on ESPN2 in the Wichita Regional.
Michael Durr, B1 Ballers- Durr teams up with his former Indiana teammate, Parker Stewart, on the B1 Ballers. The 7-foot center transferred from South Florida to Indiana before coach Mike Woodson’s first season at Indiana in 2021-22. Durr appeared in 30 games off the bench, playing a season-high 24 minutes in Indiana’s win over Purdue at Assembly Hall. Durr finished his career at Central Florida
Curtis Jones Jr., Happy Valley Hoopers- Jones played two seasons at Indiana from 2016-18 under former coach Tom Crean. The 6-foot-4 guard played roughly 11 minutes per game and averaged about three points per game in both seasons. His career-high scoring night as a Hoosier came in his first collegiate game, a 15-point performance in Indiana’s season-opening win over Kansas in Honolulu, Hawaii. He transferred to Oklahoma State, then Penn State to finish his career. They play the Nerd Team in the Syracuse Region on Monday at 4 pm on ESPN2.
Clifton Moore, Big 5 Moore played limited minutes off the bench in 24 games across two seasons as a Hoosier during former coach Archie Miller’s first two seasons. The 6-foot-10 forward spent three seasons at La Salle, then transferred to Providence for his final year of college. They will play the Buffalo Alumni Team and defending champions Blue Collar U in the Syracuse Region on Monday at 2pm.
Luke Fischer, Herd That- Fischer joined former coach Tom Crean and the Hoosiers in 2013-14 as the nation’s No. 71 recruit, but he transferred after playing just 13 games off the bench. The 6-foot-11 center finished his career at Marquette, where he averaged over 10 points per game in each of his three seasons under coach Steve Wojciechowski. Herd That is the Marshall alumni team and will play the Zoo Crew which is the Pittsburgh Alumni Team on Tuesday at 9pm in the West Virginia Regional.
Josh Newkirk, Zoo Crew- After two seasons at Pittsburgh, Newkirk transferred to Indiana, where he spent three seasons. After sitting out one season, the 6-foot-1 point guard started 56 games for the Hoosiers across two seasons. He averaged 9.0 points during coach Tom Crean’s final season in 2016-17, then contributed 7.1 points per game when coach Archie Miller took over in 2017-18. The Zoo Crew is the Pittsburgh Alumni Team, and they will take on Luke Fischer and Herd That on Tuesday at 9pm in the West Virginia Regional.
Maurice Creek, Shell Shock- Creek’s Indiana career was marred by injuries, but he was a special talent when healthy. As a freshman in 2009-10, the 6-foot-5 guard averaged 16.4 points on 44.8 percent 3-point shooting in his first 12 games before suffering a knee injury. He played 42 games during 2010-11 and 2012-13 seasons but missed the entire 2011-12 season with a torn Achilles. Creek finished his career at George Washington, where he started 30 games and averaged 14.1 points. Shell Shock is the Maryland Alumni Team and Creek is from Maryland and they play Gataverse which the University of Florida Alumni team in the Louisville Regional at 4pm on Tuesday.
Devin Davis, The Money Team- Davis played one season at Indiana, averaging 2.4 points and 2.6 rebounds in 29 games off the bench during the 2013-14 season. The 6-foot-7 forward missed two seasons of college basketball with what coach Tom Crean called a “traumatic brain injury” when he was hit by a car. Davis returned to action during the 2016-17 season as a member of the Houston Cougars. He played two seasons under coach Kelvin Sampson, averaging 9.9 points and 5.9 rebounds in 48 starts and 55 total games. The Money Team will play Nasty Nati which is the University of Cincinnati Alumni Team on Friday at 6pm in the Xavier Regional.
Remy Abell, Zip ‘Em Up -Abell played 68 games off the bench across two seasons as a Hoosier from 2011-13. Under coach Tom Crean, Abell helped Indiana win the 2013 Big Ten title, averaging 4.0 point on 48.5 percent 3-point shooting. The 6-foot-4 guard finished his career at Xavier, where he started 68 games and scored 7.5 points per game across two seasons. Zip’ Em Up which is the Xavier Alumni Team will play Georgia Kingz on Friday at 8pm in the Xavier Regional.
Indianapolis Indians fall to the Iowa Cubs 7-1
The Indianapolis Indians offense mustered just three hits as the Iowa Cubs slammed their way to a 7-1 victory on Wednesday afternoon at Principal Park in Des Moines. Three home runs for the I-Cubs (54-36, 11-6) offense plated its first six runs in the afternoon affair. David Bote began the derby in the second inning against Cam Alldred (L, 5-3), who was charged with five runs through 4.1 innings. In the next frame, Yonathan Perlaza launched his second homer in as many days to extend Iowa’s lead, 2-0. A one-out single and two walks loaded the bases for Nelson Velasquez in the fifth inning, who put the game out of reach with a grand slam off the left-field videoboard against Travis MacGregor.
After I-Cubs starter Ben Brown (W, 5-6) exited the game following 5.0 one-hit innings and nine strikeouts, the Indians (42-49, 9-8) countered with two walks and a one-out single by Rodolfo Castro to load the bases in the sixth inning. A strikeout and 4-3 groundout at the heart of Indianapolis’ order ended the threat without a run scoring. The Indians then plated their lone run in the top of the eighth on Aaron Shackelford’s 12th home run of the season. Miguel Andújar went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts to end his 15-game hitting streak dating back to June 29. During the 15-gamer, nine games of which were multi-hit performances, he hit .409 (27-for-66) with 20 RBI. The Indians and I-Cubs continue their six-game set tonight in a 7:38pm start. RHP Kyle Nicolas (0-2, 11.05) will take the mound against RHP Caleb Kilian (6-1, 4.27).
Fishers High School Basketball player Jalen Haralson heading to Prep School
Another one of the top high school basketball prospects in the state is headed to prep school. Jalen Haralson, a 6-7 junior-to-be at Fishers, announced Wednesday he will enroll at La Lumiere in LaPorte, a prep school in Northwest Indiana that has attracted some of the top players in the country in the past decade. Haralson, a five-star guard rated as the No. 9 player in the country by 247Sports, has offers from Indiana, Purdue, Auburn, Gonzaga, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, Ohio State, TCU and Wisconsin, among others. The 16-year-old Haralson is the second high-profile in-state player in the past week to leave IHSAA basketball. Brownsburg’s Kanon Catchings, a 6-8 senior-to-be and Purdue recruit, announced last week he was transferring to play his senior year at Overtime Elite in Atlanta.
La Lumiere is a boarding and day school located on a 190-acre campus in LaPorte County. The school opened in 1963, though it was not known for basketball until the 2010s. In-state players like Jaren Jackson Jr. (Park Tudor) and Jaden Ivey (Mishawaka Marian) who both later became top-five NBA first-round draft picks transferred to La Lumiere and helped raise the program’s profile. Since 2016, La Lumiere reached three GEICO National Championship games, including a title in 2017. La Lumiere added four-star prospect Chuck Love, a 6-6 rising junior from Lincoln, Neb., earlier this week. Other notable players to come from La Lumiere include Jordan Poole, Tyger Campbell, Isaiah Stewart, Brian Bowen II and Keion Brooks Jr. La Lumiere is part of the National Interscholastic Basketball Conference with Arizona Compass Prep, Brewster Academy, Long Island Lutheran, IMG Academy, Legacy Early College, Montverde Academy, Oak Hill Academy, Sunrise Christian Academy and Wasatch Academy.
Haralson was a star from day one at Fishers, fitting in as a freshman on a veteran team that ascended to No. 1 in the state and finished 21-3. He averaged 16.0 points and 4.6 rebounds per game as a freshman and shot 54% from the field. As a sophomore, Haralson moved into the point guard role and averaged 23.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists on a young team that finished 14-12. Haralson played with Fishers through the June schedule, leading the Tigers to a 4-0 record at the Charlie Hughes Shootout with a winning margin of 29.8 points per game against Plainfield, Chesterton, Crown Point and Jeffersonville. Fishers was 11-0 in June overall.
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