Aliyah Boston impresses and Indiana shows fight, but Fever fall in WNBA season opener

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Fever dropped the first game of the 2023 WNBA season Friday night, falling to the Connecticut Sun, 70-61. The Sun have now won five straight games against the Fever, and Indiana has lost four consecutive season-openers dating back to 2020.

Here are three observations from the Fever's loss.

Doyel: That new feeling for Fever fans is hope. But they're left wanting more in opener.

'We want Grace!' Fans notice Grace Berger's absence from Fever season-opener

Slow start

The Fever managed just one point in the first six minutes of the game — a free throw from Aliyah Boston.

Indiana finally got its first field goal with 3:30 remaining in the first quarter, breaking an 0-of-9 streak. In the meantime, the Fever committed seven turnovers.

After Kelsey Mitchell hit a 3-pointer with about three minutes left in the first quarter, however, the Fever went on a cold streak again. Indiana went seven minutes in between baskets, stretching into the second quarter. Mitchell single-handedly brought the Fever back into contention into the second quarter with a solo 9-0 run — an and-1 layup and two three-pointers — to get Indiana within five points of the Sun.

"Kelsey Mitchell is just dynamic," coach Christie Sides said. "Her cuts are dynamic, her speed is dynamic. When she cuts, the defense has to move. But if we're not setting screens and we're not setting hard second cuts, the defense doesn't have to work. And that's what was happening when we were hitting those walls."

More: Get to know the Fever roster for the 2023 season

Aliyah Boston impresses in WNBA debut

As the No. 1 pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft, the Fever had high expectations for Boston. On Friday night, she delivered. She started the game and ended up trading minutes with backup center Queen Egbo through the first three quarters.

Boston played most of the fourth quarter at the 5 and rallied the Fever back into the game, including a layup with two minutes left to pull Indiana within three points.

"It wasn't a successful rookie debut, just because no matter what my stats are like, it's a team sport," Boston said. "So, it was not as successful as I'd hoped, but it's a lesson learned. You watch film, you see what happened and what we need to adjust on, and we go from there."

She nearly had a double-double in her debut, finishing with 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting and nine rebounds in 25 minutes.

No calls went her way, however, as she fouled out with just under a minute left in the game.

"This is her second game to foul out in, and it's really upset her because she feels like she's letting down the team," Sides said. "I told her from the beginning that she's not going to get any calls. That's just what happens to rookies."

Other rookies limited in season-opener

Despite having a roster loaded with youth, first-year coach Christie Sides leaned on experience in the season opener Friday night.

Grace Berger, who was one of the most decorated Indiana University women's basketball players in program history and the seventh pick in the draft, did not get into the game. She was the only player to not take the floor.

Fans started getting antsy as Berger's absence stretched into the third quarter, chanting "We want Grace!" throughout the 10-minute period. In the fourth quarter, fans started chanting "Grace" at the under-8 timeout.

Victaria Saxton, the Fever's third rookie, got into the game for the first time at the two-minute mark of the third quarter. She picked up two fouls in less than a minute, prompting Egbo to replace Saxton on the floor. Saxton did not return following her 49-second stint.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: WNBA: 3 takeaways from Indiana Fever's loss to Connecticut Sun