'She Will Get There, I Promise': Former Hoosier Grace Berger Doesn't Play in Indiana Fever Debut

Indiana Fever guard and former Hoosier Grace Berger didn't play in the Indiana Fever regular season debut loss, but head coach Christie Sides promised Berger would get her moment and be a great player. She said she's not quite ready to throw her in the fire.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Indiana Fever guard Grace Berger went from averaging just under 32 points her senior season at Indiana to not playing in the season debut for the Indiana Fever versus the Connecticut Sun. However, she was still business as usual and said she's experienced this before.

"I don't think it's tough," Berger said in a postgame interview. "I've been in this position before playing with USA Basketball, maybe earlier in my career at IU. 

"I've been fortunate enough to have experiences on both sides of it, and I think my mentality stays the same, just getting ready when my number is called, 35 minutes or three minutes."

Grace Berger warms up before the Indiana Fever's opening night matchup versus the Connecticut Sun on Friday, May 19 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse / Haley Jordan

The Fever made a ferocious comeback having once been down by 19 points before coming alive in the second half thanks to rookie center Aliyah Boston, who finished with 15 points, and veteran guard Kelsey Mitchell, who led the whole game with 20. Still, Indiana fell to the Sun 70-61.

Berger remained patient and was locked into the game the whole time. She leapt off the bench when a bucket was scored, and she always stood up to high five her teammates when they came in and out of the game.

"G-baby's one of those people where she's very very very conservative and to herself, but for her to influence...the Indiana Fever tonight, it was amazing," Mitchell said.

"She's taken over so much influence in this state. The best thing about her is she hasn't even tapped into everything she brings to the table for us. I look forward to playing with G-baby."

That influence came from her time as a Hoosier where she was a part of history. Largest women's crowd, first Big Ten regular season title in 40 years and first NCAA Tournament one seed are just a few of the major events Berger influenced.

She even influenced the fans tonight! Since the Fever and the Hoosiers essentially have the same shade of red, it was hard to tell which fans belonged to Berger. However, plenty of 'Indiana' logos were spotted all over Gainbridge Fieldhouse coupled with 'we want Grace' chants.

Indiana Hoosier fans support the Indiana Fever on Friday, May 19 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse versus the Connecticut Sun / Haley Jordan

"Grace is going to be a good player one day," head coach Christie Sides said. "Grace has got some learning to do. She knows that. She comes out. She fights, and she helps make us better. 

"She's learning. She's growing. She's playing point in the best league in the world, and that's just a tough job, so I don't want to throw her out in the fire right now. She will get there. I promise. We're lucky to have Grace Berger on our team."

Fever staff said Berger was the first one in the gym before the game, and she was getting another workout in after the game before her postgame interview. She credits the Hoosiers for getting her into the professional athlete mindset.

"It's a dream come true," Berger said. "This is the highest you can get in this sport, so just being on the team, being able to learn from great players like Kelsey Mitchell, Erica Wheeler, see them up close in person and get to know them and get to learn from them, it's really special."

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