Tag: Erica Wheeler

Fever’s Erica Wheeler may miss out on $55K at WNBA All-Star weekend because of a software bug

Someone please get Erica Wheeler to Phoenix ASAP!

You know that massive software outage that’s wrecking havoc on technology all around the world on Friday? Well, it may have a massive financial impact on Indiana Fever guard Erica Wheeler, too.

The 33-year-old should be on her way to Phoenix right now for the WNBA All-Star weekend, but her flight was among the hundreds canceled as airlines work through the mini tech apocalypse.

That’s not only a massive bummer for the veteran guard, it might legitimately cost her tens of thousands of dollars now that she cannot compete in Friday’s skills competition and has been replaced by teammate Kelsey Mitchell.

On Thursday night, WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike announced insurance company Aflac would be providing a $55,000 prize for the winners of the skills challenge and 3-point contest.

Here’s the thing, though. Wheeler has every right to feel like that money should be going into her pocket. The guard is the favorite (+300 at DraftKings Sportsbook) to win the skills contest against Marina Mabrey, Allisha Gray, Sophie Cunningham and Brittney Griner.

And, as we all know, WNBA players don’t live in a world where they can scoff at an extra $55K. That’s more than a third of Wheeler’s average salary on her current contract for an hour or so of work.

Here’s hoping she gets another shot next year.

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Erica Wheeler iced out the Fever, including Christie Sides, and we cannot stop giggling over the video

Erica Wheeler and Christie Sides in iced out chains is the duo we never knew we needed.

Indiana Fever veteran Erica Wheeler iced out the whole team, including head coach Christie Sides, and we cannot stop chuckling about the video.

This isn’t the first time that Wheeler has iced out her team. Remember when Wheeler threw her jewelry on Caitlin Clark? The result was so tremendously funny that it inspired a whole bunch of Kirk Cousins memes. It seems Wheeler has now expanded to the entire team.

In a newly shared video to social media, Wheeler surprised her squad with jewelry, and the best part isn’t their HUGE Fever logo chains. It’s head coach Christie Sides posing for photos with Erica, rocking some fresh ice.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8dD5KPPo3f/?igsh=MXMwZ3p4dTQ2a2ptOQ==

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Former Rutgers star Erica Wheeler posts video of her WNBA life with Caitlin Clark

Erica Wheeler posts a video of traveling with Caitlin Clark.

Indiana Fever rookie guard Caitlin Clark is creating all the buzz in the WNBA, and veteran teammate Erica Wheeler is here for the fun. Wheeler, a former standout guard at Rutgers, showed a glimpse into the life of the WNBA.

Wheeler, who was a standout at Rutgers, played in Europe for the first three seasons of her professional career before joining the Atlanta Dream of the WNBA in 2015. She scored 16 points in the season opener last week along with four assists and four rebounds in a 79-76 loss to the Dallas Wings.

The game was the much-anticipated debut of Clark, the first pick in the WNBA draft. Clark scored 21 points in the loss.

The WNBA, boosted by the arrival of star players in the league, announced over the weekend that teams will now take charter flights for away games. For Wheeler and her teammates, this is a big deal and a bit of luxury.

Wheeler, who has a tremendous personality and is always up for a laugh, took a video over the weekend that has gone viral showing the charter flight life.

 

And there was also this interaction that Wheeler had when she took on the role of being a media member on Monday, interjecting herself into Clark’s press conference.

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Caitlin Clark press conferences are a big deal these days, for what it’s worth.

One can’t help but think Wheeler, who has been in the WNBA for eight seasons, might be poking fun at the media rather than Clark. After all, with Clark’s arrival has come a flood of media attention.

And with all that media attention has come some pretty bad questions.

 

Wheeler…and Caitlin Clark…will play the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday night (7:30 PM ET, ESPN2)

Erica Wheeler welcomed Caitlin Clark to the Fever by acting like the consummate veteran

What an all-class move by Erica Wheeler.

Caitlin Clark’s new teammate, Erica Wheeler, has made it her mission to welcome Caitlin with open arms to the WNBA. And the reason why Wheeler has gone above and beyond for the No. 1 pick is so incredibly heartwarming.

Erica Wheeler has been hyped about Caitlin Clark joining the Indiana Fever long before Caitlin arrived. She’s been tweeting about Clark for months and even came wholesomely unglued when Caitlin was drafted.

None of that awesome energy from Erica changed when training camp started just days ago. In fact, Wheeler explained that she felt it was her duty as Caitlin’s vet to step up to support her, even if that meant Wheeler would lose her spot as starting point guard.

Here’s what Erica told the media on Monday:

 “I just wanted to get ahead of it because I know this transition is tough. It’s very unlikely that a vet [will] just take you in when you have the same position. I think oftentimes people forget I’m a great person before a basketball player.”

“As a big sister, I’m going to take the first step first to just let her know, ‘We’re here. We got you — whatever you need from me as your vet.'”

Wheeler even went on to share that being around Clark makes her want to elevate her game. She explained that Caitlin’s energy pushes everyone.