Indiana Fever name April Schilling new assistant coach
The Fever add Indiana native April (McDivitt) Schilling to their coaching staff
April (McDivitt) Schilling is the newest addition to the Indiana Fever’s coaching staff, the team announced Wednesday. Schilling, an Indiana native, was 1999 Indiana Miss Basketball recipient and went on to play for the New York Liberty, Minnesota Lynx and Washington Mystics during her career.
What a gift to work with Jenna Allen while she is home for break from her rookie season in Spain! While scoring 15 ppg, 8 rebounds, and shooting over 40% from 3— I’m sure she contributes even more with her positive attitude and work ethic. pic.twitter.com/8rnwZ0aZwO
— April (McDivitt) Schilling (@AprilDSchilling) December 26, 2019
The Fever finished last season with a 13-21 record and missed out on the playoffs for the third year in a row, but have retained their young core, along with veteran leaders like Candice Dupree, and have since overhauled their coaching staff. After firing head coach and general manager Pokey Chatman in September, the Fever organization brought on Marianne Stanley as new head coach with renewed hope for next season.
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While Indiana didn’t shatter expectations last season, the team looked promising at times and got a glimpse at what its future could be. No. 3 draft pick Teira McCowan proved herself as an essential piece, setting a franchise record with 305 rebounds in her first season and finishing second in the WNBA in rebounds despite only starting 16 games.
Kelsey Mitchell and 2019 All-Star MVP Erica Wheeler shared point guard duties last season and were dishing out assists left and right. Wheeler finished the season with 175 assists, setting a franchise record for most assists in a season, while Mitchell finished second in the WNBA with 79 made three-pointers in 2019.
The team will also be excited about the return of Victoria Vivians from injury, who missed the entire 2019 season after tearing her ACL. In 2018, the then-rookie shot nearly 40% from behind the arc while playing every game during her rookie season. Vivians and Mitchell proved to be a deadly three-point shooting duo, as they combined for 135 three-pointers in 2018, setting a WNBA record. This season, Vivians will also have the chance to reunite on the court with her Mississippi State University teammate McCowan.
There’s lots to look forward to for this Indiana Fever team, and they will have the chance to prove themselves at the historic Hinkle Fieldhouse for the next three seasons while their usual home stadium, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, undergoes renovations.
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