Briann January
Biography
Born and raised in Spokane, Washington, Briann January played college basketball at Arizona State University before being selected sixth overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2009 WNBA Draft. She spent 14 seasons in the WNBA with Indiana, Phoenix, Connecticut, and Seattle, winning the 2012 WNBA championship with the Fever and earning a 2014 All-Star selection. January was named to the WNBA All-Defensive Team seven times, including five First Team and two Second Team selections.
January later transitioned into coaching, with positions at Arizona State, the Connecticut Sun, and the NBA G League's Motor City Cruise. She returned to the Indiana Fever organization as an assistant coach in 2025 and remains on the Fever coaching staff in 2026. Her playing and coaching careers have given her experience across college basketball, the WNBA, and the NBA G League.
January has also been a visible member of the LGBTQ+ community in professional basketball. In a 2021 WNBA Pride essay, she wrote about self-acceptance and the importance of LGBTQ+ role models. Her community work has included Pride participation, support for LGBTQ+ organizations, and direct engagement with LGBTQ+ youth. She received WNBA Cares Community Assist Awards in 2015 and 2019 for this work, including an initiative supporting LGBTQ+ youth in Phoenix.
BQW Impact
January's significance to BQW comes from the combination of her career as an elite Black queer woman in professional basketball and her community engagement with LGBTQ+ youth. Her public visibility has contributed to representation for queer women in women's basketball while providing a highly accomplished example of LGBTQ+ participation in professional sports.
Her community work extends that visibility beyond the court. January has participated in Pride events, supported LGBTQ+ organizations, and directly connected with LGBTQ+ young people through WNBA Cares initiatives. Her transition from player to coach also gives her an ongoing role in women's basketball and an opportunity to influence the next generation of athletes.
Notable Works
Indiana Fever Career (2009 - 2017)
January spent the first nine seasons of her WNBA career with the Indiana Fever and helped the team reach three WNBA Finals, winning the franchise's first championship in 2012.
2012 WNBA Championship
January helped the Indiana Fever defeat the Minnesota Lynx to win the franchise's first WNBA championship.
WNBA All-Defensive Team Selections
January earned seven All-Defensive Team selections, including five First Team and two Second Team honors.
Indiana Fever Coaching Career (2025)
January returned to the Indiana Fever organization as an assistant coach after coaching at Arizona State, with the Connecticut Sun, and with the Motor City Cruise.
Learn More
Official career record, statistics, honors, and biographical information.
Current Fever coaching staff and team information.
January's first-person essay about self-acceptance and LGBTQ+ visibility.
Documentation of January's community work supporting LGBTQ+ youth.
Current information about January's coaching role and Fever activities.