Last Updated on August 2, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
The Indiana Fever 2023 were led by Kelsey Mitchell, whose scoring paced the offense, while rookie Aliyah Boston quickly established herself as the team’s interior anchor with efficient scoring, rebounding, and defensive play. Erica Wheeler directed the offense as the primary facilitator, and NaLyssa Smith provided additional frontcourt production. The Fever relied on their strength in the paint and balanced rebounding while continuing to develop a young core.
HeatingUp Impact Index: Team Impact Spotlight
| Player Name | Role Tier | MPG | Usage Tier | PPG | RPG | APG | STK (SPG + BPG) | Impact Index | Notes | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelsey Mitchell | Starter/Star (1.1) | 33.7 | High (1.2) | 18.2 | 1.6 | 3.1 | 1.0 | 63.10 | High-volume scoring guard who remained Indiana’s primary perimeter weapon through movement shooting, pull-up threes, and aggressive shot creation. Her expanded playmaking showed a more complete offensive role, with observers noting how she adapted to sharing responsibilities with the team’s emerging young stars. | — |
| Aliyah Boston | Starter/Star (1.1) | 31.2 | High (1.2) | 14.5 | 8.4 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 65.80 | Skilled interior anchor who immediately became Indiana’s defensive foundation and a reliable offensive hub. Her polished footwork, passing instincts, and ability to finish efficiently around the rim stood out, with analysts praising her maturity as a franchise-level frontcourt piece. | WNBA Rookie of the Year (2023), WNBA All-Rookie Team (2023), WNBA All-Star (2023) |
| NaLyssa Smith | Starter/Star (1.1) | 28.5 | High (1.2) | 15.5 | 9.2 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 60.62 | Athletic power forward who gave Indiana another interior scoring option while dominating the glass. Her ability to run the floor, attack mismatches, and rebound outside her area remained central to the Fever frontcourt, although consistency as a defender was still a focus. | — |
| Erica Wheeler | Starter/Star (1.1) | 26.8 | Medium (1.1) | 9.9 | 3.0 | 5.0 | 1.2 | 44.88 | Veteran point guard who served as the team’s organizer and emotional leader. Her quick decision-making, transition passing, and ability to create offense for teammates allowed Indiana’s young core to play more freely while she handled difficult backcourt responsibilities. | WNBA All-Star (2019) |
| Lexie Hull | Key Contributor (1.05) | 20.6 | Low (1.0) | 4.6 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 20.27 | Defensive wing who carved out a role through effort, perimeter defense, and improved confidence as a complementary shooter. Indiana valued her ability to guard tough assignments and contribute without needing plays designed for her. | — |
| Kristy Wallace | Key Contributor (1.05) | 19.7 | Low (1.0) | 6.6 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 22.05 | Versatile guard who provided lineup flexibility with shooting, ball movement, and defensive toughness. Her ability to play multiple perimeter positions made her a useful rotation piece as Indiana developed chemistry around its young core. | — |
| Victoria Vivians | Key Contributor (1.05) | 17.7 | Low (1.0) | 5.2 | 3.1 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 18.38 | Experienced wing who contributed spacing and defensive versatility in a reduced role. Her value came from positional size and veteran awareness, helping Indiana maintain balance when the starters needed support. | — |
| Emma Cannon | Bench (1.0) | 10.5 | Low (1.0) | 5.8 | 3.1 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 19.20 | Physical reserve forward who provided efficient scoring and rebounding in short stretches. Her veteran approach helped stabilize bench units, with her impact coming from smart positioning and interior toughness. | — |
| Grace Berger | Bench (1.0) | 14.6 | Low (1.0) | 4.2 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 17.00 | Developing guard who earned minutes through versatility and steady decision-making. Her rookie role focused on learning the professional pace while contributing as a connector who could handle the ball and defend multiple perimeter spots. | — |
| Queen Egbo | Bench (1.0) | 8.9 | Low (1.0) | 2.9 | 4.1 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 15.40 | Defensive center used in short bursts for rebounding and interior size. Her shot-blocking instincts remained her calling card, though opportunities were limited behind Indiana’s established frontcourt rotation. | — |
| Maya Caldwell | Bench (1.0) | 10.1 | Low (1.0) | 1.9 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 7.60 | Reserve guard who contributed primarily through energy minutes and perimeter defense. Her role was focused on development and providing depth in a crowded backcourt. | — |
| Amanda Zahui B. | Bench (1.0) | 7.3 | Low (1.0) | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 6.80 | Veteran center providing emergency frontcourt depth. Her limited minutes were mainly used for size, rebounding, and defensive coverage. | — |
| Victaria Saxton | Bench (1.0) | 3.6 | Low (1.0) | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 4.20 | Limited reserve forward role focused on gaining experience and providing frontcourt depth when needed. | — |
| Totals | — | 235.4 | — | 89.9 | 43.2 | 20.1 | 14.6 | 365.29 | Indiana’s 2023 season was defined by the emergence of Aliyah Boston alongside the continued scoring dominance of Kelsey Mitchell and the interior production of NaLyssa Smith. The Fever balanced veteran leadership with a young core that began establishing a clearer identity built around offensive growth and defensive versatility. | WNBA Rookie of the Year (2023), WNBA All-Rookie Team (2023), WNBA All-Star (2023), WNBA All-Star (2019) |