Indiana Fever assistant coach Briann January has been more than vital for the team in 2025, especially for Caitlin Clark. As the star point guard suffered through an injury crisis for the first time in her career, she leaned on January for support. “Coach Bri, she’s been through injuries herself, and she’s always kind of just been there,” Clark said. “Even if I’m in the weight room extra after practice, like she’ll come in there and talk to me and just help me work through the extra lifting that I have to do, because she’s experienced those type of things as a player, and she kind of knows how it goes, and knows that those days can get long. So I really appreciate her.” 

Before January was a coach, she played for the Indiana Fever from 2009-2017, and retired in 2022 after a career filled with injuries. Torn ACL, torn meniscus, minor issues, torn cartilage, you name it. Battle-tested by her own rehab wars, January’s injury savvy has been a lifeline for an Indiana roster grinding through a bruising year. Meet the force behind the clipboard: the champion point guard who now engineers poise, toughness, and defense from the sideline.

Where is Briann January from, and What is Briann January’s Nationality?

Briann January was born on January 11, 1987, in Spokane, Washington, to Barry, who was a karate instructor, and Sally, a teacher. January could well have been a high jumper. January was a multi-sport Phenom right off the bat. As a 2005 graduate of Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane, Washington, she had first-team all-state honors by multiple outlets. 

January served as a team captain in track and field as a senior. She won the state high jump title in 2004. Along with high jump, she led the school to a 25–3 record and an appearance in the state semifinals as a senior while being the assists leader and MVP of the side. Her exploits in high school meant Arizona State scouted her.  Naturally, January is American by nationality. 

What is Briann January’s ethnicity?

While Briann January hasn’t explicitly mentioned her ethnicity, January is commonly identified as African American. In her playing days, she was at the forefront of standing up for racial issues in the WNBA.“It’s affecting our people. It’s affecting us,” she said in 2016. “We’re about trying to create change, making a better world and using our platform to do it.” Certainly, January’s activism, along with the top WNBA players at the time, has played a huge part in getting the WNBA to where it is in 2025.

Is Briann January Christian?

There are no reliable sources regarding Briann January’s religion. Looking at her social media, January celebrates Christmas with enthusiasm and joy. “A Christmas for the books. Full of lots of firsts for the January’s. Thankful for my family and the time we have together. Merry Christmas Everyone!💚🎁🎅🏿🎄❤️” She wrote. However, that is not enough to designate her as Christian. 

After a celebrated WNBA career, which involved 7 All-Defensive selections and a WNBA ring along with an All-Star call-up, January is bringing her expertise to coaching. So far, she has been on the Connecticut Sun and Indiana Fever bench. At the time with the Sun, she worked with current Fever coach Stephanie White, and they were semifinalists in both years of January’s tenure. And the trend continued with the Fever as they reached the semifinals against all the odds. With this record, January is on track to become a head coach soon, as the WNBA has seen a trend of new coaches taking over. 2025 Coach of the Year Natalie Nakase was once an assistant with the Aces, so you never know.