Indiana Fever Share Exciting News During Sparks Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Rowan Fisher-Shotton | Last updated Jun 26, 2025 10:24 PM ET

The Indiana Fever entered Thursday’s home tilt against the Los Angeles Sparks seeking to build on a .500 start to the season.

After leading at the half by four, 34-30, Indiana continued to stay ahead after the break, going up by eight entering the final frame.

Unfortunately, the Sparks dominated the fourth quarter, outscoring the Fever 35-17 en route to an 85-75 victory, thanks in large part to Azura Stevens (23 points, seven rebounds) and Kelsey Plum (21 points, six assists).

With the loss, Indiana fell to 7-8 on the season while Los Angeles improved to 5-11.

Despite the on-court drama, the most significant moment came just before tip-off.

On the Gainbridge Fieldhouse court, the Fever honored Rhonda Bayless as June’s Anthem Assists Winner.

Tonight, we honored Rhonda Bayless as June’s Anthem Assists Winner!

As the Founder of the Centers of Wellness for Urban Women, Rhonda has spent over two decades leading community-driven efforts focused on the health and healing of women and their families. Her work champions… pic.twitter.com/87IzXq00tQ
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) June 27, 2025

Bayless, founder and executive director of the Centers of Wellness for Urban Women (CWUW), was recognized for more than two decades of community leadership focused on holistic health, mental health access, food justice and health equity for women and their families.

After years working on HIV treatment and prevention programs for African-American women, Bayless established CWUW in 2007 to address the social determinants of health—ranging from nutrition and exercise to mental wellness and environmental factors—in Indianapolis’s urban communities.

Early in her career, Bayless spearheaded "Women to Women," a CDC-backed HIV-prevention initiative for African-American women.

She later led training and capacity-building efforts for Girls Inc. affiliates on adolescent pregnancy prevention and substance-abuse support.

Bayless has also spoken at the National Council on Disability’s quarterly meeting under the Obama administration on the topic of Black women and mental health.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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