INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Fever continued their low season overhaul Monday by signing free agent ahead Brianna Turner, a two-time WNBA all-defensive choice.
Turner is the newest addition to a roster that consists of 5 All-Stars and the WNBA’s final two Rookies of the Yr, guard Caitlin Clark and ahead Aliyah Boston.
Including Turner additionally follows a pattern the Fever have adopted all through the low season — bringing in veterans with postseason expertise. Indiana already had signed forwards Natasha Howard, a three-time champ and two-time All-Star, and DeWanna Bonner, a two-time champ and six-time All-Star.
Indiana believes the additions will make the franchise a professional title contender after ending a seven-year playoff drought final season. The Fever had been swept within the first spherical of the playoffs by the Connecticut Solar.
“I’m ecstatic to hitch the Fever group and compete for a championship,” Turner mentioned in a press release launched by the workforce. “I used to be drawn to the workforce’s dedication to investing in girls and offering the perfect skilled environment for fulfillment. The entrance workplace and training workers have assembled a dynamic roster that I’m trying ahead to studying from and rising with all through the season.”
Atlanta chosen Turner with the No. 11 total draft decide in 2019 and traded her to Phoenix. The Notre Dame alum spent her first 5 seasons with the Mercury, incomes all-rookie honors in 2019. She was chosen to the league’s all-defensive workforce in 2020 and 2021 after ending among the many league’s high eight in blocks every season.
Turner spent final season with the Chicago Sky, taking part in the fewest minutes of her six professional seasons and averaged profession lows of 1.2 factors. 2.0 rebounds and 0.5 blocks.
However Indiana believes the six-foot-three shot blocker could possibly be poised for a resurgence this season. Turner’s profession averages are 4.6 factors, 6.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks.
“She provides depth to our put up rotation, bringing distinctive shot blocking and rebounding skills to our workforce,” normal supervisor Amber Cox mentioned. “Brianna’s basketball I.Q. is off the charts, she performs with nice tempo and is one other incredible veteran presence for us, each on and off the courtroom.”
Turner helped lead the Combating Irish to their second NCAA championship in 2018.
She might be reunited with former Mercury teammate Sophie Cunningham, who the Fever acquired in a four-team commerce. Indiana additionally signed guard Sydney Colson, who performed the previous three seasons in Las Vegas the place she was a part of two championship runs.
