Grace Berger Explained

Grace Berger
Number:34
Position:Point guard
Height Ft:6
Height In:0
Weight Lbs:160
League:Turkish Super League
Team:OGM Ormanspor
Birth Date:3 June 1999
Birth Place:Louisville, Kentucky, U.S
High School:Sacred Heart Academy
(Louisville, Kentucky)
College:Indiana (2018–2023)
Draft League:WNBA
Draft Year:2023
Draft Round:1
Draft Pick:7
Draft Team:Indiana Fever
Career Start:2023
Years1:–present
Team1:Indiana Fever
Years2:2023
Team2:Gernika KESB
Years3:2024
Team3:Athletes Unlimited League
Years4:2024–present
Team4:OGM Ormanspor
Highlights:
  • 4× First-team All-Big Ten (2020–2023)

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

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

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

WNBA

Indiana Fever (2023–present)

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

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

Overseas

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

WNBA

Regular season

Stats current through end of 2024 season|-| align="left" | 2023| align="left" | Indiana|36||0||14.6||.449||.471||.840||1.6||1.9||0.5||0.2||1.0||4.2|-| align="left" | 2024| align="left" | Indiana| 11 || 0 || 9.3 || .400 || .400 || .643 || 1.4 || 0.6 || 0.5 || 0.0 || 0.9 || 2.8|-| align="left" | Career| align="left" | 2 years, 1 team| 47 || 0 || 13.3 || .441 || .462 || .769 || 1.5 || 1.6 || 0.5 || 0.1 || 1.0 || 3.9

Playoffs

|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2024| style="text-align:left;"| Indiana| 1 || 0 || 2.0 ||—||—||—|| 0.0 || 1.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:left;"| Career| style="text-align:left;"| 1 year, 1 team| 1 || 0 || 2.0 ||—||—||—|| 0.0 || 1.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0

College

|-| style="text-align:left;" | 2018–19| style="text-align:left;" | Indiana| 34 || 4 || 20.3 || .422 || .217 || .521 || 2.8 || 1.6 || 0.7 || 0.1 || 1.6 || 5.5|-| style="text-align:left;" | 2019–20| style="text-align:left;" | Indiana| 30 || 30 || 34.4 || .456 || .300 || .769 || 5.2 || 3.5 || 1.4 || 0.2 || 2.5 || 13.1|-| style="text-align:left;" | 2020–21| style="text-align:left;" | Indiana| 27 || 27 || 34.1 || .441 || .324 || .744 || 6.8 || 4.6 || 1.1 || 0.2 || 2.0 || 15.4|-| style="text-align:left;" | 2021–22| style="text-align:left;" | Indiana| 33 || 33 || 36.4 || .460 || .261 || .788 || 6.2 || 4.7 || 1.4 || 0.2 || 2.6 || 16.2|-| style="text-align:left;" | 2022–23| style="text-align:left;" | Indiana| 24 || 24 || 32.0 || .484 || .407 || .757 || 4.8 || 5.8 || 1.0 || 0.3 || 2.5 || 12.9|-| style="text-align:center;" colspan=2 | Career| 148 || 118 || 31.1 || .452 || .306 || .742 || 5.1 || 3.9 || 1.1 || 0.2 || 2.2 || 12.4

National team career

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.[20]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Whitus . Tom . Girls' Basketball: Future Hoosier, Valkyries at Jeff tonight . . November 1, 2022 . December 7, 2017.
  2. Web site: Hauari . Gabe . Sacred Heart's Grace Berger named Courier Journal Kentucky Girls Athlete of the Year . . November 1, 2022 . June 7, 2018.
  3. Web site: Frakes . Jason . Kentucky girls basketball All-State: Sacred Heart's Grace Berger . . November 1, 2022 . April 12, 2018.
  4. Web site: Beishuizen . Sam . 2018 Guard Grace Berger "Couldn't Wait Any Longer" To Commit To Indiana . TheHoosier . November 1, 2022 . November 14, 2016.
  5. Web site: Schumann . Mike . No. 24 Indiana Women's Basketball Looks to Keep Progressing With Deep Roster . The Daily Hoosier . November 2, 2022 . November 6, 2019.
  6. Web site: Schumann . Mike . Hoosiers Sights: Q&A with first team All-Big Ten IU women's basketball star Grace Berger . The Daily Hoosier . November 2, 2022 . May 20, 2020.
  7. Web site: Schumann . Mike . Grace Berger records first ever IU women's basketball triple double as Hoosiers cruise in opener . The Daily Hoosier . November 3, 2022 . November 25, 2020.
  8. Web site: Berger and Patberg Earn Spots On Wade Watch List . Indiana University Athletics . November 3, 2022 . November 9, 2021.
  9. Web site: Clifford . Charlie . Berger helps propel Indiana women's basketball into a national power . . November 3, 2022 . February 22, 2022.
  10. Web site: Tow . Seth . Ex-Sacred Heart star Grace Berger racks up career-high 29 to lead No. 7 Indiana over MSU . . November 3, 2022 . February 13, 2022.
  11. Web site: Schumann . Mike . IU women picked to finish second in Big Ten, Berger and Holmes earn preseason honors . The Daily Hoosier . November 3, 2022 . October 5, 2022.
  12. Web site: Tow . Seth . Big news for IU: Grace Berger to return to Indiana women's basketball . . November 3, 2022 . February 18, 2022.
  13. Jordan . Haley . Grace Berger Selected by Indiana Fever in First Round of WNBA Draft . Sports Illustrated . April 10, 2023 . August 16, 2024.
  14. Web site: CQMiles . 2023-09-22 . How well did Grace Berger do in year one with the Indiana Fever? . 2024-10-07 . The Crimson Quarry . en.
  15. Web site: Peterson . Chloe . 'Worked her tail off from Day 1': How Indiana alum Grace Berger grew as Fever rookie. . 2024-10-07 . The Indianapolis Star . en-US.
  16. Web site: ‘We’re super proud’: Teri Moren praises former Hoosier Grace Berger for impact on program . 2024-10-07 . ‘We’re super proud’: Teri Moren praises former Hoosier Grace Berger for impact on program - Indiana Daily Student . en-US.
  17. Web site: Unlimited . Athletes . 2024-03-11 . Grace Berger Has Made Quick Adjustment to AU Pro Basketball . 2024-10-07 . Athletes Unlimited . en-US.
  18. Web site: Lasley . Alec . 2024-05-03 . A more confident Grace Berger begins year two with Indiana Fever as expectations and buzz around the franchise rise . 2024-10-07 . Hoosier Illustrated . en-US.
  19. Web site: Ormanspor tabs Grace Berger . 2024-10-07 . www.eurobasket.com.
  20. Web site: Grace Berger Wins Gold With USA Basketball At 2021 FIBA Women's AmeriCup . Indiana University Athletics . November 3, 2022 . June 19, 2021.