Erica Wheeler (basketball)

Erica Wheeler (born May 2, 1991) is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Wheeler was undrafted out of Rutgers, but eventually made her way into the WNBA in 2015.

Early years
Wheeler grew up in the Miami neighborhood of Liberty City. Liberty City is one of the worst, most crime-ridden inner cities in America, and Wheeler saw two of her close friends die when she was young. Wheeler attended Parkway Academy and was a member of the basketball team there.

College career
Wheeler committed to play at Rutgers in 2009. Rutgers reached the NCAA Tournament in each of her first three seasons. Wheeler contributed as a junior, leading the team in steals, and averaging just under 10 points per game. Prior to her senior year, Wheeler's mother died of cancer. However, Wheeler finished her senior season and graduated from Rutgers.

Rutgers statistics
Source

WNBA
Wheeler earned a try-out in 2015 for the Atlanta Dream after not being selected in the WNBA Draft. Wheeler appeared in 17 games for the Dream in 2015, alongside Angel McCoughtry and Tiffany Hayes, but was eventually cut. Wheeler then moved to the New York Liberty, playing with Tina Charles and Swin Cash. In 2016, Wheeler was signed after training camp by the Indiana Fever and started in 25 games alongside Tamika Catchings. In 2017, Wheeler continued with the Fever and was second on the team in scoring, and led the team in assists. In 2019, Wheeler became the first undrafted player in WNBA history to be named All-Star Game MVP.

Before the start of the 2020 WNBA season, Wheeler tested positive for COVID-19, and developed health complications including fluid buildup around her heart. She was not cleared to resume playing basketball again until October, missing the entire COVID-shortened 2020 season, which ended October 6.

Prior to the start of the 2021 WNBA season, Wheeler signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Sparks to be their new starting point guard alongside Nneka Ogwumike. Then, before the start of the 2022 WNBA season, she signed with the Atlanta Dream for a second stint, playing with rookie Rhyne Howard.

Preceeding the start of the 2023 WNBA season, Wheeler signed as a free agent with the Indiana Fever, returning to the franchise for a second stint. During the 2024 WNBA season, Wheeler served as the main backup to rookie Caitlin Clark. Wheeler was originally named as a contestant of the 2024 Skills Challenge at 2024 WNBA All-Star Weekend, but was unable to attend due to the global computer outages delaying her travel. She was replaced by fellow Fever teammate, Kelsey Mitchell.

Overseas
After missing the 2020 WNBA season due to COVID, Wheeler signed with Turkey's Izmit Belediyespor and played in 16 games of their 2020-21 season and ranking second on the team with 15.1 points per game. In the winter seasons of 2021/2022, 2022/2023, 2023/2024, she played for BC Polkowice in Poland.

Regular season

 * style="text-align:left;"| 2015
 * style="text-align:left;"| Atlanta
 * 17 || 0 || 11.9 || .457 || .400 || .500 || 0.9 || 1.5 || 0.5 || 0.0 || 1.2 || 4.5
 * style="text-align:left;"| 2015
 * style="text-align:left;"| New York
 * 3 || 0 || 8.7 || .385 || .000 || 1.000 || 1.3 || 0.3 || 1.3 || 0.0 || 2.0 || 4.7
 * style="text-align:left;"| 2016
 * style="text-align:left;"| Indiana
 * 34 || 25 || 23.9 || .418 || .298 || .833 || 2.1 || 2.8 || 0.6 || 0.0 || 2.0 || 8.4
 * style="text-align:left;"| 2017
 * style="text-align:left;"| Indiana
 * 34 || 26 || 26.4 || .400 || .331 || .792 || 3.0 || 4.1 || 1.4 || 0.0 || 2.2 || 11.8
 * style="text-align:left;"| 2018
 * style="text-align:left;"| Indiana
 * 34 || 22 || 21.7 || .351 || .276 || .797 || 2.9 || 4.1 || 0.8 || 0.2 || 1.4 || 7.8
 * style="text-align:left;"| 2019
 * style="text-align:left;"| Indiana
 * 34 || 34 || 25.0 || .426 || .384 || .872 || 3.0 || 5.0 || 1.2 || 0.1 || 2.9 || 10.1
 * style="text-align:left;"| 2021
 * style="text-align:left;"| Los Angeles
 * 32 || 32 || 30.2 || .417 || .359 || .827 || 3.1 || 4.8 || 1.3 || 0.3 || 2.7 || 13.6
 * style="text-align:left;"| 2022
 * style="text-align:left;"| Atlanta
 * 30 || 30 || 26.3 || .355 || .329 || .756 || 3.1 || 3.9 || 1.1 || 0.1 || 2.5 || 8.4
 * style="text-align:left;"| 2023
 * style="text-align:left;"| Indiana
 * style="background:#D3D3D3"| 40° || style="background:#D3D3D3"| 40° || 26.8 || .398 || .309 || .878 || 3.0 || 5.0 || 1.1 || 0.1 || 2.1 || 9.9
 * style="text-align:left;"| Career
 * style="text-align:left;"| 8 years, 4 teams
 * 258 || 209 || 24.6 || .398 || .331 || .820 || 2.6 || 4.0 || 1.0 || 0.1 || 2.2 || 9.5
 * style="text-align:left;"| Atlanta
 * 30 || 30 || 26.3 || .355 || .329 || .756 || 3.1 || 3.9 || 1.1 || 0.1 || 2.5 || 8.4
 * style="text-align:left;"| 2023
 * style="text-align:left;"| Indiana
 * style="background:#D3D3D3"| 40° || style="background:#D3D3D3"| 40° || 26.8 || .398 || .309 || .878 || 3.0 || 5.0 || 1.1 || 0.1 || 2.1 || 9.9
 * style="text-align:left;"| Career
 * style="text-align:left;"| 8 years, 4 teams
 * 258 || 209 || 24.6 || .398 || .331 || .820 || 2.6 || 4.0 || 1.0 || 0.1 || 2.2 || 9.5
 * style="text-align:left;"| 8 years, 4 teams
 * 258 || 209 || 24.6 || .398 || .331 || .820 || 2.6 || 4.0 || 1.0 || 0.1 || 2.2 || 9.5

Playoffs

 * style="text-align:left;"| 2015
 * style="text-align:left;"| New York
 * 3 || 0 || 2.7 || .333 || .000 || .000 || 0.3 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.6 || 0.7
 * style="text-align:left;"| 2016
 * style="text-align:left;"| Indiana
 * 1 || 1 || 25.6 || .500 || 1.000 || 1.000 || 3.0 || 3.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 1.0 || 10.0
 * style="text-align:left;"| Career
 * style="text-align:left;"|2 years, 2 teams
 * 4 || 1 || 8.4 || .444 || 1.000 || 1.000 || 1.0 || 0.8 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.8 || 3.0
 * style="text-align:left;"| Career
 * style="text-align:left;"|2 years, 2 teams
 * 4 || 1 || 8.4 || .444 || 1.000 || 1.000 || 1.0 || 0.8 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.8 || 3.0