In Midst of Breakout Year, Coleman Having Fun Once Again


MINNEAPOLIS – Even with all the feel-good stories that have arisen for Minnesota and Indiana as they reached the Finals, none may be better than Marissa Coleman’s.

Coleman, a seven-year veteran, has enjoyed a phenomenal 2015 season for the Fever. She is averaging career highs in just about all statistical categories and the sharpshooter was selected to her first-ever WNBA All-Star Game.



“It’s been a really, really special year,” Coleman said. “I’ve been thinking about it the past couple days, my journey in this league, and how it’s led me to this point. I’ve always been a firm believer in everything happens for a reason. Those struggles early on, they were preparing me for this point and getting to this Finals and being on such a great team.”

Coleman, who joined the Fever in 2014 after disappointing stints with the Sparks and Mystics, says that she is having fun playing basketball again. Never was that more evident than in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals when Coleman hit a clutch 3-pointer during the decisive Fever rally and she responded with maybe the postseason’s most animated celebration.

For this mentality, Coleman credits the Fever organization.

“When you’re surrounded with people every day when you come into practices and games that have a ton of confidence in you, it makes it easier to go out there and perform in games,” Coleman said. “From day one, when I came to Indiana, coach (Lin) Dunn and Stephanie (White) instilled that confidence in me. They told me they wanted me to get back to being a scorer and using my versatility. When you have that type of confidence it’s easy to perform well.”

Coleman has come up big for the Fever in the biggest moments. In both Game 3s of this postseason, Coleman hit five 3-pointers to end with 15 (Eastern Conference Finals) and 17 points (Eastern Conference Semifinals).

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