WHO
Indiana Fever star and WNBA MVP Tamika Catchings
WHAT
The founder of her own Catch The Stars Foundation, a campaign ambassador for the Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee’s Super Cure initiative and an ambassador for the NBA’s Dribble to Stop Diabetes Campaign, Catchings will be active in Super Bowl activities this week.
NFL Experience on Monday, Jan. 30, with Colts players Pierre Garcon and Adam Vinatieri.
Saturday, she will participate in the Gridiron Celebrity Hoops Basketball Game with former NFL Pro Bowler Terrell Owens, recording artist and actor Chris Brown, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant and former NBA champion Rasheed Wallace.
SCHEDULE
Monday, January 30, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m
Geneco Sports Verizon Media Event
NFL Experience – Indiana Convention Center
• Football skills competition with Pierre Garcon, Adam Vinatieri, local media members and other local celebs
Saturday, February 4, 7:00 p.m.
14th Annual Gridiron Celebrity Hoops XIV, the only celebrity basketball game officially sanctioned by the NFL
Hinkle Fieldhouse – Butler University
• Family and fan-favorite basketball game produced by Jam Sports Productions, with dozens of celebrities and professional athletes expected to participate
FEVER ANNOUNCES 2012 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Fever has announced its 2012 Women’s National Basketball Association schedule. Indiana will play 34 regular-season games including its home and season opener on Saturday, May 19 against the defending Eastern Conference champion Atlanta Dream (7:00 p.m.).
The opening matchup between the Fever and Dream features the Eastern Conference champs from the past three seasons – Indiana in 2009 and the Dream in 2010 and 2011. Following a road game at I-65 rival Chicago on Friday, May 25, the Fever battles the Dream again, in Atlanta, for a Sunday afternoon battle on May 27.
Returning from a seventh straight playoff appearance in 2011, and eight in 12 seasons, Indiana begins its 13th WNBA season under the direction of fifth-year coach Lin Dunn. Last summer, Dunn became the winningest coach in Fever history, leading Indiana to four consecutive playoff berths and three straight years with at least 20 wins.
The Fever has amassed at least 20 wins in six of the past seven seasons, matching a WNBA record set by the Los Angeles Sparks (1999-06). Indiana hopes to become the first franchise in league history to record 20 wins in 7 of 8 years.
Playing in a 12-team WNBA, the Fever’s schedule includes 22 games against the Eastern Conference and 12 against the West. The Fever will play four games apiece against Eastern foes Connecticut, New York and Washington; and square off against Atlanta and Chicago five times. Home and away games are scheduled against each of six Western Conference opponents.
This year’s schedule allows for a full-month break, July 15 to August 15, to accommodate the Summer Olympics in London – similar to its break for the Olympics in 2008 in Beijing, China. Indiana’s regular season schedule concludes Sunday, Sept. 23 when the Fever hosts the Tulsa Shock.
Fever schedule highlights for the upcoming season include:
Ÿ Indiana’s home opener is Saturday, May 19 against the Atlanta Dream, led by All-Star Angel McCoughtry. The opener pits Eastern Conference Finals opponents from last season.
Ÿ After traveling during 8 of 13 games in May and June, the Fever plays four straight home games in July before breaking for the Olympics. Indiana returns from the Olympic break with another pair of home dates before embarking on a three-game West Coast road trip in late August..
Ÿ Indiana’s annual Kids Day game takes place on Tuesday, July 10 (12:00 p.m.) when the New York Liberty comes to town in a rematch of last year’s first-round playoff series. This afternoon contest has annually drawn one of the Fever’s largest crowds of the season.
Ÿ The Fever will face defending WNBA champ Minnesota in September when the Fever and Lynx meet in back-to-back games – Friday, Sept. 14 in Indianapolis and Sunday, Sept. 16 at Minnesota.
For season ticket information, visit FeverBasketball.com or call (317) 917-2500.