Katie Douglas returning to Indiana Fever lineup Friday night
From the Indiana Fever:
INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Fever star Katie Douglas will make her return to the Fever lineup when Indiana hosts the New York Liberty on Friday evening in the regular season home finale (7:00 p.m.). Douglas was diagnosed with a bulging disc in her lower back in early June, and has not played a game since May 31.
Second-year forward Jessica Breland has been released to make room for Douglas’ return. Breland signed as a free agent with Indiana prior to training camp and, with the club’s multitude of injuries this season, she remained as a replacement player through most of the season. Per league rules for replacement players, the Fever was required to release Breland once Douglas was activated.
Breland has played in 30 games for the Fever, averaging 5.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.03 blocked shots per game.
Douglas is one of the most prominent stars in the WNBA, returning to the Fever as the second-leading scorer in franchise history. She ranks ninth all-time among league scoring leaders and is fifth in 3-point field goals and steals. In fact, Douglas and teammate Tamika Catchings are the only players in league history to amass over 500 3-pointers and 500 steals.
In two games this season, Douglas averaged 17.5 points. The last game she played was Indiana’s home opener.
Douglas is one of four Fever players who have missed extended time due to injury this season. In all, nine different Fever players have missed time due to injury this season, including each of the club’s top seven scorers from its 2012 championship team.
