Indiana rookie Briann January is learning on the job

INDIANAPOLIS — Briann January didn't have to wait for a veteran WNBA player to welcome her to the league; Indiana coach Lin Dunn handled that.

January, the rookie Fever guard from Spokane, cut under a screen twice against San Antonio star Becky Hammon in exhibition play. Twice Hammon stuck the shot in the Fever's face.

Quicker than an IndyCar, January was on the bench.

"Welcome to the WNBA, Briann, meet Becky Hammon," Dunn belted in her Southern drawl. Once January was seated, Dunn began her lesson.

"I said, 'Let me tell you something. Do not ever, ever, ever go under a screen on Becky Hammon,' " Dunn recalled. "She said, 'Coach, I promise I won't.' She was so cute."

The Fever drafted January with the sixth pick of the April draft, and the rookie beat out veteran Tully Bevilaqua for the starting point-guard position. But more lessons could be coming January's way when she faces Storm All-Star Sue Bird tonight at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Seattle (2-0) won a home-and-home series against Sacramento to open the season. Indiana (0-2) dropped a road matchup in overtime at Atlanta and lost to Minnesota at home.

"It's a little bit surprising," January said of being a starter. "At the same time, veterans on the team have been in my ear. I guess they and the coaches feel that I can help the team, so they're accepting of me being in that position."

January has the résumé to earn respect.

Pros like Bird and Sacramento's Kara Lawson have talked about watching January lead Arizona State in the NCAA tournament on a bum ankle. January, pushed to play the point more because of a season-ending knee injury to teammate Dymond Simon, averaged 13.8 points and 5.8 assists in ASU's four tournament games, with the team losing in the Elite Eight to eventual champion Connecticut.

"It's a huge challenge in the WNBA because you're facing different defenses, better players one-on-one and more pressure," Lawson said of the transition from college. "What's going to help her is the fact that she has such a veteran team. It's kind of like being a quarterback in the NFL. If you're Joe Flacco and you're going against Ray Lewis on the defensive side and you've got a running game, it's like, hey, just don't screw it up. She's got that kind of setup in Indiana, and it's a great opportunity for her to flourish."

Dunn said January was the player she wanted at No. 6 in the draft, ahead of Kristi Toliver (who went third to Chicago) and Renee Montgomery (fourth to Minnesota) because of January's defense.

January, who is 5 feet 8, is teamed with forward Tamika Catchings and center Yolanda Griffith, each former WNBA defensive players of the year. Then there's Bevilaqua, a key member of the Storm's 2004 championship team.

January immediately caught her teammates' attention when she took a charge against a male practice player the opening day of training camp.

She didn't, however, impress anyone with her race-car knowledge.

"Indiana is kind of like Spokane, it's not a very fast-paced place at all," January said. "I found out quick-fast that IndyCar is different than NASCAR. I'm not quite a fan, yet. I drive a Hyundai Elantra. But it's great here."

Jayda Evans: 206-464-2067