Briann January was a legendary participant for the Indiana Fever, serving to the group to the 2017 championship and rating second all-time in franchise video games and assists.
Now, the six-time All-Defensive Crew member returns to the Fever as an assistant coach — becoming a member of a new-look roster that added DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard, and Sophie Cunningham within the offseason. The Fever will probably be lead by final yr’s core of Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell.
January joins a training workers headlined by Stephanie White and an assistant workers that features Karima-Christmas Kelly, Austin Kelly, and Keith Porter.
Briann January makes the transfer from Connecticut to Indiana
January spent the final two seasons as an assistant coach on the Connecticut Solar underneath Briann January, the place she performed a major position in orchestrating the group’s protection, which ranked among the many greatest within the league in each 2023 and 2024.
In Connecticut, January additionally coached Bonner, who joined the Fever as a free agent within the offseason. Kelly and Porter each coached for the Solar final yr underneath White as properly — January will see a lot of acquainted faces in Indiana.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Briann January again to Indiana,” White stated. “She is part of the material of the Indiana Fever franchise from her influence as a participant and can proceed to be as a coach,”
“Bri’s instance of toughness, resilience, work ethic, communication fashion, and basketball IQ will probably be an incredible useful resource for our gamers, workers, and group,” she continued. “She is a winner, a brilliant younger teaching thoughts, and an incredible human being. I’m very excited to proceed our teaching journey collectively.”
Briann January had an illustrious profession with the Indiana Fever as a participant
January, who was chosen by Fever No. 6 within the 2009 WNBA Draft, performed 9 seasons in Indiana. She averaged 7.8 factors and three.4 assists per recreation, taking pictures 37.6% from three in her profession.
She’s additionally among the many franchises’ leaderboard in a slew of classes: no. 2 general in video games performed (250) and assists (909), no. 3 in steals (285) and free throw share (84.7), and no. 4 in whole factors (2,244), subject targets made (721), three-pointers made (242), and three-point share (36.9).
“Recognized for her cerebral fashion of play, lockdown protection and skilled passing as a participant, Briann January now gives all of these attributes and data as a coach.”
⭐️ WNBA Champion (2012)
⭐️ WNBA All-Star (2014)
⭐️ 7x WNBA All-Defensive Crew pic.twitter.com/aRBzUxmw8x— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) April 2, 2025
Why Briann January might be so impactful
For January, the chance to return to Indiana to educate is an opportunity to compete for a championship in a corporation the place she’s already gained one.
“I’m so excited for the chance to come back again to town and the group that drafted me,” January stated. “It is a place the place I acquired to play and win for a decade of my profession. It’s my second residence. I’m able to get to work and hopefully convey one other championship to Indiana with this unbelievable group and workers.”
January was often known as a defensive guru as a participant, and remains to be thought of elite defensively as a coach. Provided that protection was one of many Fever’s weaknesses final season, January’s addition to the workers may show vastly impactful.
Final season, Indiana had the second-worst protection ranking within the league. This season, they added a number of protection standouts, like Howard and Bonner. January may assist tie all of it collectively.
