IU star Grace Berger doesn’t play in Indiana Fever season-opener

Only one player didn’t take the floor on Friday night, and fans took notice.

Guard Grace Berger, who was one of the most decorated Indiana University women’s basketball players in program history and the seventh pick in the WNBA Draft, did not play in the Fever’s season-opening 70-61 loss to the Connecticut Sun.

“Grace is going to be a good player one day,” coach Christie Sides said. “Grace has got learning to do, she knows that. She comes out and she fights… She’s learning, she’s growing.”

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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.

While fans were disappointed in Berger’s lack of playing time, she said she hopes it doesn’t affect their attendance in the future.

“I hope they keep coming back to support our team,” Berger said. “I think we have a lot of really exciting players, so I’m glad that IU and my roots from that got them in the stands. Hopefully, they saw how much potential our team has and will keep coming back.”