FINAL ROSTER SET AS FEVER EMBARKS ON 10TH SEASON

New Release | June 4, 2009

INDIANAPOLIS – Four Olympians, three former WNBA champions, five WNBA finalists and five past WNBA All-Stars comprise what is the most star-studded roster in Indiana Fever history, as announced today by Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Kelly Krauskopf.

The Fever opens its 10th season Saturday at Atlanta (7:00 p.m., 1070 The Fan and WNBA LiveAccess), before returning to Indianapolis for its home opener on Sunday against the Minnesota Lynx (7:00 p.m., FOX Sports Indiana and 1070 The Fan).

Released Thursday were rookie center Danielle Campbell, a third-round draft pick who helped lead Purdue to the NCAA Elite Eight in last year’s NCAA Tournament; and four-year guard Tan White, the Fever’s top draft pick in 2005. White boasted a 9.2-point career scoring average with the Fever. Despite making just 34 starts over four seasons, she is the second-leading scorer in franchise history (1,240) and ranks fourth in games played (135).

Indiana’s roster is paced by nine-year Fever star Tamika Catchings, who was recently selected by WNBA GMs as the best small forward in the league. The two-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist and five-time All-Star is joined on the Fever by three other former Olympians – Tully Bevilaqua (Australia), Yolanda Griffith (USA) and Tammy Sutton-Brown (Canada).

Catchings joins Dixon, Griffith, Sutton-Brown and Katie Douglas as WNBA All-Stars on the 2009 Fever roster. Catchings and seven-time All-Star Griffith both have been named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year. Griffith, a former league MVP (2001), will share duties at power forward with five-year Fever star Ebony Hoffman who was named the league’s Most Improved Player last season.

With Catchings as the face of the franchise since 2001, Indiana has made five playoff appearances including four straight since 2005. What she and the Fever seek, however, is a shot at a WNBA title. Three of Catchings’ teammates have won that title – Dixon (2001 and 2002 with Los Angeles), Bevilaqua (2004 with Seattle) and Griffith (2005 with Sacramento). Douglas and Sutton-Brown both reached the WNBA Finals with Connecticut and Charlotte, respectively.

While the 2009 roster is now laden with experience, it also boasts energy and youth. First-round draft pick Briann January will make a bid to become the team’s starting point guard, with second-round pick Christina Wirth regarded as a valuable shooter and versatile forward. Second-year stars Erica White and Khajijah Whittington complete the roster.

No Player Pos Ht Wt Birthdate College Yr
41 Tully Bevilaqua G 5-7 145 07/19/1972 Australia 10
24 Tamika Catchings F 6-1 167 07/21/1979 Tennessee 8
21 Tamecka Dixon G 5-9 148 12/14/1975 Kansas 12
23 Katie Douglas G-F 6-0 165 05/07/1979 Purdue 8
33 Yolanda Griffith C-F 6-4 175 03/01/1970 Florida Atlantic 10
32 Ebony Hoffman F 6-2 215 08/27/1982 USC 5
20 Briann January G 5-8 144 01/11/1987 Arizona State R
8 Tammy Sutton-Brown C 6-4 199 01/27/1978 Rutgers 8
7 Erica White G 5-3 135 08/26/1986 Louisiana State 1
1 Khadijah Whittington F 6-1 185 08/05/1986 NC State 1
34 Christina Wirth F 6-1 172 04/18/1987 Vanderbilt R