[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 96 (Monday, June 10, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E731-E732]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INDIANA FEVER

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                          HON. SUSAN W. BROOKS

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 10, 2019

  Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of 
the 20th anniversary of the Indiana Fever basketball team. Founded only 
four years after the founding of the Women's National Basketball 
Association (WNBA), the Fever have demonstrated a consistent commitment 
to providing excellent sports entertainment and to giving back to their 
community. The people of the Fifth Congressional District are grateful 
for the Indiana Fever and it is my pleasure to congratulate the Indiana 
Fever and the entire Pacers Sports & Entertainment organization in 
Indianapolis, Indiana, in celebration of this special occasion.
  Arriving in Indianapolis in 1999 while I was Deputy Mayor of the City 
of Indianapolis, the team became an immediate mainstay of Hoosier 
sports. Former President and General Manager of the team, Kelly 
Krauskopf, formed the first Indiana Fever Community Advisory Board, 
which I was proud to be a part of. With the generous support of owners 
Herb Simon and the late Mel Simon, the team quickly climbed the ladder 
of success. Today, the team has secured a league-record 13 playoff 
appearances--reaching the WNBA Finals three times and claiming the 
league title in 2012 to bring the first professional basketball 
championship to Indianapolis since the Indiana Pacers' ABA title in 
1973. Under the leadership of star player Tamika Catchings, the Fever's 
12 consecutive playoff appearances from 2005 to 2012 represented, at 
the time, the second-longest active playoff streak in American 
professional sports.
  The incredible success of the Indiana Fever would not have been 
possible without the dedication made by the players who have devoted 
their lives to the game of basketball. Among the best athletes in the 
world, many Fever players and coaches have gone on to compete in the 
Olympics. Nikki McCray, Natalie Williams, Kara Wolters and Tamika 
Catchings have played for the United States Olympic Team, while Nell 
Fortner has the remarkable distinction of having been appointed as the 
first head coach of the Fever while she was still coaching the United 
States Olympic Team. During this time, Coach Fortner led the U.S. 
Olympic Team to a perfect 8-0 record, claiming the Olympic Gold medal 
and claiming the record for the most wins of any coach in Women's USA 
Basketball history. Former Fever head coach and Women's Basketball Hall 
of Fame inductee, Coach Lin Dunn, led the team to their 2012 WNBA title 
after serving as an Assistant Coach for the U.S. Women's Olympic Team 
in 1990. During her time as President and General Manager of the team, 
Kelly Krauskopf led them to the WNBA playoffs 13 times and helped 
further many of their outreach programs. In 2018, Ms. Krauskopf moved 
to the Indiana Pacers, becoming the first female assistant general 
manager in the history of the NBA. The remarkable success of the 
Indiana Fever both on and off the court can be attributed to this 
strong legacy of dedication and achievement exhibited by players and 
coaches alike.
  Through their record of success, the Indiana Fever remind us of the 
importance of women in all levels of sport. Under the leadership of the 
Simon family, and through their consistent dedication to women's 
basketball, the Fever seeks to promote increased participation of women 
and girls in sports. With a stated mission to ``promote the development 
and well-being of youth and families within our community,'' the team 
has done a great deal to make Indiana a better place for families to 
live and grow. The team regularly invites members of our community, 
including participants in Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Boys and Girls 
Club and Girl Scouts, to attend season games at no cost. The Choices 
for Champions program combats bullying in schools by educating young 
people and hosting them at a pre-season game where they can learn about 
the impacts of bullying. The team's Hoops For Troops program seeks to 
honor active duty and retired military heroes through military base 
visits, in-arena nights and meet-and-greets with Wounded Warriors, 
while the Hoops For A Cure Auction has raised over $200,000 in total 
for breast cancer patients.
  The Indiana Fever has, and continues to do, great things for the 
people of Indiana. Players on the team have been honored nineteen 
separate times with the WNBA Community Assist Award, with eight of 
these going to long-time player Tamika Catchings alone. Ms. Catchings 
has also been honored twice with the Dawn Staley Leadership Award, one 
of the highest community service awards in the WNBA. Under the new 
leadership of Dr. Allison Barber, President, and Tamika Catchings, Vice 
President, the Fever are working to continue to build the premiere WNBA 
franchise in the country. During their 20-year tenure in Indianapolis, 
the team has transformed and improved the lives of countless young 
people and their families. On behalf of all Hoosiers, I would like to 
thank them for their continued dedication to our communities and wish 
them success in the future.

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