The Indiana Fever, a professional women's basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana, has won one WNBA Championship in their history. The Fever, a member of the WNBA's Eastern Conference, was founded in 2000.
Key Moments in Indiana Fever History:
- Early Years (2000-2004): The Indiana Fever joined the WNBA as an expansion team in 2000. In their inaugural season, coached by Anne Donovan, they had a 9-23 record.
- Sustained Success (2005-2016): The Fever experienced significant success between 2005 and 2016, making 12 consecutive playoff appearances.
- 2009 WNBA Finals: Coached by Lin Dunn, the Fever reached the WNBA Finals for the first time in 2009 but lost to the Phoenix Mercury in a five-game series.
- 2012 WNBA Championship: The Fever won their first WNBA championship in 2012, defeating the Minnesota Lynx 3-1 in the finals. Tamika Catchings was named the 2012 Finals MVP.
- 2015 WNBA Finals: The Fever reached the WNBA Finals again in 2015 but lost to the Minnesota Lynx in five games.
- Tamika Catchings Era: Tamika Catchings, drafted in 2001, became a dominant player for the Fever. She led the team to their 2012 WNBA Championship and earned numerous accolades, including the 2012 WNBA Finals MVP and the 2011 WNBA MVP. Catchings retired in 2016 as the all-time leader in rebounds, steals, and free throws made. Her jersey number 24 was retired in 2017.
- Rebuilding Phase (2017-Present): Since 2017, the Fever have been in a rebuilding phase, facing challenges in regaining competitive form.
- 2024 Season: Caitlin Clark's arrival in 2024 led to increased fan interest and a WNBA single-season record for home attendance, averaging over 17,000.
In addition to their WNBA Championship, the Indiana Fever has also won three conference titles in 2009, 2012, and 2015. They have qualified for the WNBA Playoffs in 14 of their 25 seasons.
