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Grace Berger

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Grace Berger
Berger with Indiana in 2022
No. 34 – OGM Ormanspor
PositionPoint guard
LeagueTurkish Super League
Personal information
Born (1999-06-03) June 3, 1999 (age 25)
Louisville, Kentucky, U.S
Listed height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Listed weight160 lb (73 kg)
Career information
High schoolSacred Heart Academy
(Louisville, Kentucky)
CollegeIndiana (2018–2023)
WNBA draft2023: 1st round, 7th overall pick
Selected by the Indiana Fever
Playing career2023–present
Career history
2023–presentIndiana Fever
2023Gernika KESB
2024Athletes Unlimited League
2024–presentOGM Ormanspor
Career highlights and awards
  • 4× First-team All-Big Ten (2020–2023)
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Medals
Women's basketball
Representing the  United States
FIBA AmeriCup
Gold medal – first place 2021 Puerto Rico Team

Grace Elizabeth Berger (born June 3, 1999) is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for OGM Ormanspor of the Turkish Super League. Berger was drafted by the Fever as the #7 pick of the 2023 WNBA draft.

Early life

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Berger played basketball for Sacred Heart Academy in Louisville, Kentucky. In her junior season, she averaged 14.5 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, helping her team win the Seventh Region title and reach the state finals.[1] As a senior, Berger earned Courier-Journal Athlete of the Year, Kentucky All-Star and Seventh Region Player of the Year honors after averaging 15.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists and leading Sacred Heart back to the regional final.[2] She was a three-time All-State selection in high school.[3] Rated a five-star recruit by ESPN, Berger committed to play college basketball for Indiana over offers from Kentucky, Louisville and Michigan.[4]

College career

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As a freshman at Indiana, Berger averaged 5.5 points and 2.8 rebounds per game.[5] In her sophomore season, she averaged 13.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, leading her team to a program-record 24 wins. She was a first-team All-Big Ten selection.[6] On November 25, 2020, in her junior season debut, Berger recorded the first triple-double in program history, with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a 100–51 win against Eastern Kentucky.[7] She led the NCAA Division I with three triple-doubles during the season. Berger averaged 15.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists per game and was named first-team All-Big Ten.[8] At the 2021 NCAA tournament, she led Indiana to its first-ever Elite Eight appearance.[9] On February 12, 2022, Berger scored a career-high 29 points in a 76–58 win over Michigan State.[10] As a senior, she averaged 16.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game and was named first-team All-Big Ten for a third straight season.[11] Berger opted to return for a fifth year of eligibility, granted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[12]

Professional career

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WNBA

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Indiana Fever (2023–present)

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On April 10, 2023, Berger was selected in the first round as the seventh overall pick of the 2023 WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever.[13] In her first season with the Fever, she appeared in 36 games and her role gradually grew as the season progressed.[14][15]

Berger's role declined in her second season with the Fever and she appeared in only 11 regular-season games.[16]

Athletes Unlimited

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Berger played in the 2024 season of the Athletes Unlimited League.[17]

Overseas

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In the 2023 WNBA off-season, Berger played for Gernika KESB of the Liga Femenina de Baloncesto. However, a thumb injury cut her time in Europe short and she ended up playing only 8 games.[18]

In July 2024, Berger signed with OGM Ormanspor of the Turkish Super League.[19]

Career statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game  RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game  BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
 TO  Turnovers per game  FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 Bold  Career best ° League leader

WNBA

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Regular season

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Stats current through end of 2024 season

WNBA regular season statistics[20]
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2023 Indiana 36 0 14.6 .449 .471 .840 1.6 1.9 0.5 0.2 1.0 4.2
2024 Indiana 11 0 9.3 .400 .400 .643 1.4 0.6 0.5 0.0 0.9 2.8
Career 2 years, 1 team 47 0 13.3 .441 .462 .769 1.5 1.6 0.5 0.1 1.0 3.9

Playoffs

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WNBA playoff statistics
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2024 Indiana 1 0 2.0 — — — 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Career 1 year, 1 team 1 0 2.0 — — — 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

College

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NCAA statistics[21]
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2018–19 Indiana 34 4 20.3 .422 .217 .521 2.8 1.6 0.7 0.1 1.6 5.5
2019–20 Indiana 30 30 34.4 .456 .300 .769 5.2 3.5 1.4 0.2 2.5 13.1
2020–21 Indiana 27 27 34.1 .441 .324 .744 6.8 4.6 1.1 0.2 2.0 15.4
2021–22 Indiana 33 33 36.4 .460 .261 .788 6.2 4.7 1.4 0.2 2.6 16.2
2022–23 Indiana 24 24 32.0 .484 .407 .757 4.8 5.8 1.0 0.3 2.5 12.9
Career 148 118 31.1 .452 .306 .742 5.1 3.9 1.1 0.2 2.2 12.4

National team career

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Berger represented the United States at the 2021 FIBA AmeriCup. She averaged 6.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game, helping her team win the gold medal.[22]

References

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  1. ^ Whitus, Tom (December 7, 2017). "Girls' Basketball: Future Hoosier, Valkyries at Jeff tonight". News and Tribune. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  2. ^ Hauari, Gabe (June 7, 2018). "Sacred Heart's Grace Berger named Courier Journal Kentucky Girls Athlete of the Year". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  3. ^ Frakes, Jason (April 12, 2018). "Kentucky girls basketball All-State: Sacred Heart's Grace Berger". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  4. ^ Beishuizen, Sam (November 14, 2016). "2018 Guard Grace Berger "Couldn't Wait Any Longer" To Commit To Indiana". TheHoosier. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  5. ^ Schumann, Mike (November 6, 2019). "No. 24 Indiana Women's Basketball Looks to Keep Progressing With Deep Roster". The Daily Hoosier. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  6. ^ Schumann, Mike (May 20, 2020). "Hoosiers Sights: Q&A with first team All-Big Ten IU women's basketball star Grace Berger". The Daily Hoosier. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  7. ^ Schumann, Mike (November 25, 2020). "Grace Berger records first ever IU women's basketball triple double as Hoosiers cruise in opener". The Daily Hoosier. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  8. ^ "Berger and Patberg Earn Spots On Wade Watch List". Indiana University Athletics. November 9, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  9. ^ Clifford, Charlie (February 22, 2022). "Berger helps propel Indiana women's basketball into a national power". WISH-TV. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  10. ^ Tow, Seth (February 13, 2022). "Ex-Sacred Heart star Grace Berger racks up career-high 29 to lead No. 7 Indiana over MSU". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  11. ^ Schumann, Mike (October 5, 2022). "IU women picked to finish second in Big Ten, Berger and Holmes earn preseason honors". The Daily Hoosier. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  12. ^ Tow, Seth (February 18, 2022). "Big news for IU: Grace Berger to return to Indiana women's basketball". The Herald-Times. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  13. ^ Jordan, Haley (April 10, 2023). "Grace Berger Selected by Indiana Fever in First Round of WNBA Draft". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  14. ^ CQMiles (September 22, 2023). "How well did Grace Berger do in year one with the Indiana Fever?". The Crimson Quarry. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  15. ^ Peterson, Chloe. "'Worked her tail off from Day 1': How Indiana alum Grace Berger grew as Fever rookie". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  16. ^ "'We're super proud': Teri Moren praises former Hoosier Grace Berger for impact on program". ‘We’re super proud’: Teri Moren praises former Hoosier Grace Berger for impact on program - Indiana Daily Student. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  17. ^ Unlimited, Athletes (March 11, 2024). "Grace Berger Has Made Quick Adjustment to AU Pro Basketball". Athletes Unlimited. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  18. ^ Lasley, Alec (May 3, 2024). "A more confident Grace Berger begins year two with Indiana Fever as expectations and buzz around the franchise rise". Hoosier Illustrated. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  19. ^ "Ormanspor tabs Grace Berger". www.eurobasket.com. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  20. ^ "Grace Berger WNBA Stats". Basketball Reference.
  21. ^ "Grace Berger College Stats". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  22. ^ "Grace Berger Wins Gold With USA Basketball At 2021 FIBA Women's AmeriCup". Indiana University Athletics. June 19, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
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