Monique Billings is ready to step into a defining role for the Indiana Fever. After missing the season opener with an ankle injury, the veteran forward has opened up about her upcoming debut and what she brings to a team eager to bounce back.
The Fever struggled without Billings in their first game against the Dallas Wings, who shot an efficient 59% from the field and 52% from three-point range. With several key players on minutes restrictions, Indiana needed help in the frontcourt and on defense. Billings has since participated in non-contact drills and is expected to return for the team’s second matchup against the Los Angeles Sparks.
“Being a vet in this league, I’ve been here for a while, so I know what I bring and what I need to do,” Billings said during practice media availability. “I know that I’m the steadiness for this team, that steady force and voice. They call me the team mom, bringing all those vibes always. That’s my goal.”
Now in her ninth WNBA season, Billings was drafted by the Atlanta Dream in 2018 and spent five years there before stints with the Dallas Wings, Phoenix Mercury, and Golden State Valkyries. Her experience will bolster a young Fever core featuring Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Lexie Hull.
Beyond leadership, Billings’ chemistry with teammates is already evident. She played with Clark at Team USA camp and with Kelsey Mitchell at Unrivaled, building trust that translates on the court. “The chemistry I built with Caitlin Clark through Team USA and playing with Kelsey Mitchell at Unrivaled mattered to me,” Billings said. “I wanted to go where I was going to be valued and utilized, and I feel like I have that opportunity here.”
Defense remains a focal point after the Fever allowed the Wings to shoot freely. Head coach Stephanie White highlighted transition defense and ball-screen coverage as areas needing improvement. Caitlin Clark echoed that sentiment, noting the offense is fine but there’s room to grow on the other end.
Billings aims to address those issues with her physicality and defensive intensity. Last season with the Valkyries, opponents shot 44.4% when she was on the floor compared to 48.2% when she sat—a tangible impact the Fever hope to replicate.
Beyond defense, Indiana must also improve its outside shooting after hitting just 29% from three-point range in the opener. With Mitchell, Clark, and Sophie Cunningham struggling to find open looks, adjustments are needed for the Fever to match or surpass their 2025 semifinal run.
As Billings prepares to return, she sees herself as the stabilizing force the Fever need. “I feel like I’m the type of player who gets in where I fit in. Obviously my defense and my aggression. I’ve been working on my three, so being able to space out, rim run, and bring energy,” she said. “There are a lot of different factors to my game that I think fit in well here.”