INDIANAPOLIS — It’s around 11 a.m. at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, eight hours before the Indiana Fever host the New York Liberty in their home-opener. Someone yells it’s time to go, so Liberty players leave shootaround and stream into the tunnel. Some reluctantly sneak in corner threes. 

But New York’s Betnijah Laney-Hamilton goes the opposite direction past halfcourt — toward the far tunnel, where Fever players have begun to walk out for their shootaround time. Erica Wheeler leads and leaps into Laney-Hamilton’s arms, wrapping her legs around. It’s another professional reunion at the start of the season for the WNBA veterans and college teammates. 

“Every time we see each other, we embrace each other,” Wheeler said at morning shootaround. 

Wheeler and Laney-Hamilton played at Rutgers for two seasons together under head coach Vivian Stringer. It was before the Scarlet Knights moved to the Big Ten. Wheeler credited Stringer for teaching them about sisterhood, and its stuck. The pair both debuted in 2015, Wheeler as an undrafted free agent for the Atlanta Dream and second-round pick Laney-Hamilton with the Chicago Sky. 

They wound up with the Fever together in 2019, though Laney-Hamilton signed with the Dream for the following season in free-agency. The last time they spoke was three days ago, knowing they’d see each other soon.

They haven’t gotten to do so since October. But relationships within the game are built for years, Wheeler said, whether playing overseas like she has or in Athletes Unlimited. Even Fever head coach Christie Sides joined in on the hug, coaching both as an assistant. 

“She's been in Miami with my family, without me staying at my sister's house,” Wheeler said. “So like, that's family…. anybody that I bring around my family, and they know that I see them as family, they embrace them… I had my basketball camp last year. B came to my basketball camp. She could have easily stayed in the hotel. She didn’t. She stayed at my sister house.” 

With how outgoing and hilarious Wheeler is, she could have hundreds of siblings by her logic. 

“That's what sisterhood is,” Wheeler said. “Yeah, we competitive when we step between these lines, but ultimately, we family and that’s what the Rutgers culture breed. That’s what Vivian has taught us. Like, no matter what. If you come from Rutgers, we’re sisters, whether we know each other or not. Like, just for example, if you went to Rutgers, you my brother,” Wheeler chuckled. 

Erica Wheeler, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton's Miami reunion

Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Taelor Karr (12) fights for the loose ball with Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Erica Wheeler (3) and guard Betnijah Laney (44) during the second half in the first round of the 2012 NCAA women's basketball tournament at McCarthey Athletic Center. The Bulldogs defeated the Scarlet Knights 86-73.
James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

Wheeler grew up in Miami. It’s where the Fever guard hosted her sixth annual basketball camp with The Wheeler Kid Foundation. She hosted an inaugural basketball camp in Indianapolis last year, which sold out, bringing in 100 kids. October’s Miami basketball camp brought in around 180 kids. Wheeler and Laney-Hamilton stayed at her sister’s house. Tamia, Wheeler’s sister, grilled fish and cooked grits with peppers for breakfast. Cold sandwiches are the lunch favorite.

“[Betnijah’s] doing drills, you know, talking to kids, sometimes she’ll coach the all-star game,” Wheeler said. “It’s really whatever she wants. It’s just always good to have another WNBA player in the flesh at these camps. I think growing up, when we did basketball camps, the celebrity would show up just an hour and then leave. We there the whole time from 12 to 5.” 

Wheeler’s mission has been to give back to her local community. She’s selfless. In the Fever’s training camp, it would be understandable for Wheeler to exhibit jealousy toward top-pick Caitlin Clark: for being taken so high when Wheeler wasn’t taken at all, or for Clark taking shares of the starting minutes. Instead, Clark cited Wheeler Thursday as someone who always checks on her. 

Time is approaching the Fever’s home-opener versus the Liberty. It’s ballgame, Wheeler said, with no disrespect toward Laney-Hamilton, of course. She’s trying to win the game and may the best team win. It’d be significant: the Fever could pick up their first win of the season over last year’s runner-up to the title. The pressure on Indiana builds if they lose. But as good friends do: 

“We probably will grab dinner after the game,” Wheeler said.