INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Fever training camp kicked off on April 19, meaning Monique Billings has been in Indianapolis for just over a month. It’s a new adventure for the California native. She’s finding her way, both in basketball and in Midwestern life.
In basketball, her experience and voice pop for a new group. Billings’ Fever teammates praised her athleticism during training camp. They can already feel the impact she has on the glass. Head coach Stephanie White loves that rebounding, a skill she puts a ton of value on.
Billings missed the Fever’s first game with an ankle injury. Before her return for game two, White knew what was coming. “I expect Mo to do what she does best. She’s been in this league for a long time,” White said. “She’s a good, active defender. A communicator on the defensive end of the floor. Need her to rebound, need her to be a hard diver.”
The Fever won by nine that night. Billings had 9 points and eight rebounds. So far, the Fever are +2.6 points per 100 possessions with the 30-year old on the court. She leads the roster in rebounds per game and has accounted for nine of the team’s 33 offensive rebounds (27.3%) on the season. Between the lines, it’s easy to see Billings finding her way.
Off the hardwood, she’s still learning about Indianapolis and her new way of life. The people are her favorite thing about the city. Everyone has been welcoming. The kindness stands out. Billings’ home on the West Coast comes with more stimulation, but the human connection in the Circle City puts a smile on her face.
“Still trying to figure it all out, but met some really nice people,” she said of Indianapolis. “Very, like, small town… Very nice people, which I can appreciate.”
Right now, figuring it out means looking for the right farmers market. She’s been on the hunt for one since moving, specifically searching for fresh fruits and vegetables. After sharing her desire to find the right place to shop, Billings stood with a grin as those nearby provided suggestions. She’ll take them and is open to all kinds of recommendations as she adjusts to Indy.
Something Billings has found is a church — Heartland Church — but other than that, her Hoosier State discoveries have mostly been, as she put it, “Good vibes and my teammates.” And that’s the other way that Billings is figuring things out. While she has so far impacted the Indiana Fever positively on the floor, it is a new team for the veteran. That means a new head coach, new terminology, new routines, and everything that comes with switching teams.
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She’s used to that. Billings is with her fourth franchise in the last three seasons — spending time with Dallas, Phoenix, and Golden State before signing with the Fever in the offseason. She was released from the Wings before joining the Mercury, then was picked in the 2025 expansion draft by the Valkyries. This year, she agreed to a big contract with Indiana. She’s used to fitting in with a new team.
With the Fever, that’s been easy. “I honestly feel like it’s really seamless, me coming to this team. It feels good, it feels natural. I don’t have to force anything,” Billings said. “I just have to find my spots, pick my spots, set really great screens, and hustle. I just feel like everything else kind of takes care of itself.”
Doing that comes naturally for Billings. She’s had to fill a role and be an off-court light for years. Last season, she joined an expansion team in Golden State. Everything was new — the franchise, the coaches, the rosters, everything. Billings was a vocal leader and someone that the team could rely on, which was vital for a Golden State group that surprised everyone in their first season.
Billings feels that she already had her leader voice when she got to the Valkyries. It has formed over years and years in the WNBA, and it’s now an important part of her role. In Indianapolis, she’s the team’s third-most experienced player in terms of professional seasons.
She’s using that experience to boost the Indiana Fever, both behind the scenes and on the court. So far, that’s been more visible on the defensive end of the floor. “I think my voice, I think I’m the anchor. I want to be the defensive anchor as much as I can. I’m on the backside a lot, so talking through things, being in help,” Billings replied when asked how she’s aiding the Fever on defense. “I’ve played in this league for a while, so knowing personnel, helping my rookies through it as well. To me, just being the anchor, being solid. That word, consistency, [and] again someone who my team can rely on. Staying out of foul trouble, too.”
Billings suffered an ankle injury during preseason action and, as mentioned above, missed the opener. The team struggled on defense that night, giving up 107 points in regulation to the Dallas Wings. That won’t cut it.
Four days later, the UCLA product returned to the lineup. She helped the Fever limit the Los Angeles Sparks to just 78 points, leading to Indiana’s first win of 2026. It was exactly what White hoped to see.
“She’s an elite communicator on the defensive end of the floor. She does a really good job of making sure that everybody knows where they are supposed to be,” the head coach said of Billings’ defense. “Her activity level on both ends is really high and it makes a big difference for us.”
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As Aliyah Boston manages a right lower leg injury, Billings has toggled between many roles. She’s started at both the four and five for the Indiana Fever and has played alongside all of Boston, Damiris Dantas, Makayla Timpson, and Myisha Hines-Allen this season. That’s a lot for Billings to handle. Shifting roles and communicating on defense is not easy for anyone, especially a new signee.
But she’s taking it in stride and already proving to be an important voice for the Fever’s defense. She’s finding her way and showing why the Fever signed her in free agency. Now, she just needs to find a farmers market.
