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Former Lady Vol debuts with Fever against New York in WNBA
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- Former Lady Vol debuts with Fever against New York in WNBA
Indiana (21-12) defeated New York (20-14), 106-92, on Tuesday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. 16,507 were in attendance for the WNBA contest.
Former Lady Vol Mercedes Russell made her debut with the Fever. She played one minute and did not record statistics.
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Russell signed with Indiana on Monday with a season-ending injury exception following Damiris Dantas ' knee surgery. She played at Tennessee from 2013-18, appearing in 120 games (87 starts).
Russell was selected in the first round of the 2018 WNBA draft (No. 22 overall) by New York. She played for the Liberty (2018), Seattle (2018-24) and Los Angeles (2025). Russell is a two-time WNBA champion (2018, 2020).
On Tuesday, Indiana guard Kelsey Mitchell led all scorers with 28 points. Caitlin Clark also recorded 22 points, 10 assists, four rebounds and one steal for the Fever.
Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart led the Liberty in scoring with 19 points each.
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More: Jordan Horston plays 20 minutes in Caitlin Clark's historic WNBA game
June 25, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Los Angeles Sparks forward Rae Burrell (12) loses control of the ball as Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison (21) defends in the first half at Coca-Cola Coliseum.
(Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images)
July 17, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) looks to pass the ball against Seattle Storm forward Jordan Horston (23) in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
(Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images)
June 22, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia; Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison (21) shoots against Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) during the second half at State Farm Arena.
(Dale Zanine-Imagn Images)
July 17, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) shoots the ball against Seattle Storm forward Jordan Horston (23) in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
(Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images)
July 15, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Los Angeles Sparks guard-forward Rae Burrell (12) goes to the basket as Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles (5) defend during the first quarter at Target Center.
(Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images)
June 1, 2026; Arlington, Texas; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) passes the ball by Seattle Storm forward Jordan Horston (23) during the second half at College Park Center.
(Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)
May 17, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) shoots against Seattle Storm guard Flau'jae Johnson (4) and forward Jordan Horston (23) in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
(Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images)
Aug. 5, 2026; Chicago, Illinois; Los Angeles Sparks guard Rae Burrell (12) looks to pass the ball against Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud (9) during the first half of a WNBA game at Wintrust Arena.
(Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images)
June 7, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison (21) reacts after making a three point basket against the Chicago Sky during the second half at Coca-Cola Coliseum.
(John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images)
June 10, 2026; Seattle, Washington; Seattle Storm forward Jordan Horston (23) passes the ball against the Los Angeles Sparks during the second half at Climate Pledge Arena.
(Steven Bisig-Imagn Images)
Aug. 9, 2026; Los Angeles, California; LA Sparks guard Rae Burrell (12) shoots the ball against Golden State Valkyries center Kiah Stokes (41) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena.
(Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
July 8, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison (21) shoots the ball as Golden State Valkyries forward Kayla Thornton (5) defends in the second half at Coca-Cola Coliseum.
(Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images)
June 7, 2026; Los Angeles, California; LA Sparks guard-forward Rae Burrell (12) shoots the ball against Portland Fire forward Bridget Carleton (6) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena.
(Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
June 19, 2026; Uncasville, Connecticut; Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison (21) shoots against the Connecticut Sun during the first half at Mohegan Sun Arena.
(Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images)
July 10, 2026; Los Angeles, California; Los Angeles Sparks guard Rae Burrell (12) reacts against the Chicago Sky during the first half at Crypto.com Arena.
(Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images)
Isabelle Harrison #21 of the Toronto Tempo drives to the basket to score in the second half against the Washington Mystics on June 12, 2026 at CareFirst Arena in Washington, D.C.
(Jamie Sabau, Getty Images)
June 1, 2026; Arlington, Texas; Seattle Storm forward Jordan Horston (23) shoots over Dallas Wings center Li Yueru (28) during the second half at College Park Center.
(Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)
June 6, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles (5) drives to the basket past Seattle Storm forward Jordan Horston (23) in the first half at Target Center.
(Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images)
May 13, 2026; Los Angeles, California; Los Angeles Sparks guard Rae Burrell (12) is fouled by Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) as she drives to the basket in the first half at Crypto.com Arena.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images)
June 7, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison (21) and guard Marina Mabrey (3) defend against Chicago Sky center Kamilla Cardoso (10) during the second half at Coca-Cola Coliseum.
(John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images)
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PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
June 25, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Los Angeles Sparks forward Rae Burrell (12) loses control of the ball as Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison (21) defends in the first half at Coca-Cola Coliseum.
(Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images)
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PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
June 25, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Los Angeles Sparks forward Rae Burrell (12) loses control of the ball as Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison (21) defends in the first half at Coca-Cola Coliseum.
(Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images)
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PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
July 17, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) looks to pass the ball against Seattle Storm forward Jordan Horston (23) in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
(Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images)
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PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
June 22, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia; Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison (21) shoots against Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) during the second half at State Farm Arena.
(Dale Zanine-Imagn Images)
4
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PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
July 17, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) shoots the ball against Seattle Storm forward Jordan Horston (23) in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
(Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images)
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PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
July 15, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Los Angeles Sparks guard-forward Rae Burrell (12) goes to the basket as Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles (5) defend during the first quarter at Target Center.
(Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images)
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PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
June 1, 2026; Arlington, Texas; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) passes the ball by Seattle Storm forward Jordan Horston (23) during the second half at College Park Center.
(Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)
7
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PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
May 17, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) shoots against Seattle Storm guard Flau'jae Johnson (4) and forward Jordan Horston (23) in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
(Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images)
8
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PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
Aug. 5, 2026; Chicago, Illinois; Los Angeles Sparks guard Rae Burrell (12) looks to pass the ball against Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud (9) during the first half of a WNBA game at Wintrust Arena.
(Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images)
9
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PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
June 7, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison (21) reacts after making a three point basket against the Chicago Sky during the second half at Coca-Cola Coliseum.
(John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images)
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PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
June 10, 2026; Seattle, Washington; Seattle Storm forward Jordan Horston (23) passes the ball against the Los Angeles Sparks during the second half at Climate Pledge Arena.
(Steven Bisig-Imagn Images)
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PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
Aug. 9, 2026; Los Angeles, California; LA Sparks guard Rae Burrell (12) shoots the ball against Golden State Valkyries center Kiah Stokes (41) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena.
(Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
12
/20
PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
July 8, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison (21) shoots the ball as Golden State Valkyries forward Kayla Thornton (5) defends in the second half at Coca-Cola Coliseum.
(Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images)
13
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PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
June 7, 2026; Los Angeles, California; LA Sparks guard-forward Rae Burrell (12) shoots the ball against Portland Fire forward Bridget Carleton (6) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena.
(Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
14
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PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
June 19, 2026; Uncasville, Connecticut; Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison (21) shoots against the Connecticut Sun during the first half at Mohegan Sun Arena.
(Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images)
15
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PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
July 10, 2026; Los Angeles, California; Los Angeles Sparks guard Rae Burrell (12) reacts against the Chicago Sky during the first half at Crypto.com Arena.
(Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images)
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PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
Isabelle Harrison #21 of the Toronto Tempo drives to the basket to score in the second half against the Washington Mystics on June 12, 2026 at CareFirst Arena in Washington, D.C.
(Jamie Sabau, Getty Images)
17
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PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
June 1, 2026; Arlington, Texas; Seattle Storm forward Jordan Horston (23) shoots over Dallas Wings center Li Yueru (28) during the second half at College Park Center.
(Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)
18
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PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
June 6, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles (5) drives to the basket past Seattle Storm forward Jordan Horston (23) in the first half at Target Center.
(Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images)
19
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PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
May 13, 2026; Los Angeles, California; Los Angeles Sparks guard Rae Burrell (12) is fouled by Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) as she drives to the basket in the first half at Crypto.com Arena.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images)
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PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
June 7, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison (21) and guard Marina Mabrey (3) defend against Chicago Sky center Kamilla Cardoso (10) during the second half at Coca-Cola Coliseum.
(John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images)
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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Former Lady Vol debuts with Fever against New York in WNBA
