Briann January was a legendary player for the Indiana Fever, helping the team to the 2017 championship and ranking second all-time in franchise games and assists.
Latest Indiana Fever addition could be most impactful yet
Briann January, who served as an assistant coach on the Connecticut Sun under Stephanie White, is known for her defense.
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Noa Dalzell is a senior writer covering the WNBA and all of women’s basketball for Breakaway, SB Nation’s women’s sports vertical, as well as the Celtics for CelticsBlog.
Now, the six-time All-Defensive Team member returns to the Fever as an assistant coach — joining a new-look roster that added DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard, and Sophie Cunningham in the offseason. The Fever will be lead by last year’s core of Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell.
January joins a coaching staff headlined by Stephanie White and an assistant staff that includes Karima-Christmas Kelly, Austin Kelly, and Keith Porter.
Briann January makes the move from Connecticut to Indiana
January spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach on the Connecticut Sun under Briann January, where she played a significant role in orchestrating the team’s defense, which ranked among the best in the league in both 2023 and 2024.
In Connecticut, January also coached Bonner, who joined the Fever as a free agent in the offseason. Kelly and Porter both coached for the Sun last year under White as well — January will see lots of familiar faces in Indiana.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Briann January back to Indiana,” White said. “She is a part of the fabric of the Indiana Fever franchise from her impact as a player and will continue to be as a coach,”
“Bri’s example of toughness, resilience, work ethic, communication style, and basketball IQ will be a great resource for our players, staff, and community,” she continued. “She is a winner, a bright young coaching mind, and an amazing human being. I am very excited to continue our coaching journey together.”
Briann January had an illustrious career with the Indiana Fever as a player
January, who was selected by Fever No. 6 in the 2009 WNBA Draft, played 9 seasons in Indiana. She averaged 7.8 points and 3.4 assists per game, shooting 37.6% from three in her career.
She’s also among the franchises’ leaderboard in a slew of categories: no. 2 overall in games played (250) and assists (909), no. 3 in steals (285) and free throw percentage (84.7), and no. 4 in total points (2,244), field goals made (721), three-pointers made (242), and three-point percentage (36.9).
Why Briann January could be so impactful
For January, the opportunity to return to Indiana to coach is a chance to compete for a championship in an organization where she’s already won one.
“I’m so excited for the opportunity to come back to the city and the organization that drafted me,” January said. “This is a place where I got to play and win for a decade of my career. It’s my second home. I’m ready to get to work and hopefully bring another championship to Indiana with this incredible team and staff.”
January was known as a defensive guru as a player, and is still considered elite defensively as a coach. Given that defense was one of the Fever’s weaknesses last season, January’s addition to the staff could prove hugely impactful.
Last season, Indiana had the second-worst defense rating in the league. This season, they added several defense standouts, like Howard and Bonner. January could help tie it all together.
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