2024-09-23 15:50:02
(This story has been updated with more information, photo)
Caitlin Clark gets poked in the eye (literally) and the Indiana Fever get punched in the mouth (figuratively). The Connecticut Sun impose their will to a 93-69 Game 1 WNBA playoffs victory.
Game 2 of the best-of-3 series is Wednesday night in Connecticut. Game 3, if necessary, is Friday in Indianapolis.
Kelsey Mitchell scores 21 points and Aliyah Boston has 17 with 11 rebounds for the Fever. Cailtin Clark has 11 as she struggles mightily from the field. Mitchell and Clark combine for 4-of-23 3-point shooting. Damiris Dontas scores 12 off the bench.
Marina Mabrey comes off the Connecticut bench for 27 points, and Alyssa Thomas has a triple-double (13 points, 12 assists, 10 rebounds). DeWanna Bonner scores 22.
The Fever manage 20 first-quarter points, but Connecticut’s defense gets stingier the rest of the way. Indiana shoots 40.3% from the field and 21.4% on 3s.
Clark got poked in the right as in the first quarter by Connecticut’s DiJonai Carrington but didn’t miss any court time. She scored 11 points (4-of-17 shooting, 2-of-13 3-pointers, 1-of-2 free throws), 8 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 turnovers.
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Immediate impact:Where Caitlin Clark finishes in WNBA MVP voting
Hardware incoming!:Clark named AP rookie of the year, first-team All-WNBA
5:43 left 4Q: Marina Mabrey is having a scorching second half, with 5 3-pointers and 27 points for the game. Alyssa Thomas has a triple-double. Sun 81, Fever 60
Meanwhile, Caitlin Clark is developing a shiner getting poked in the eye in the first quarter.
Sun 68, Fever 57
Caitlin Clark, frigid for much of the game, has a couple of 3-pointers and 11 points. Kelsey Mitchell leads Indiana with 16 points, and Aliyah Boston has 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Marina Mabrey gets hot and is up to 18 points, matching DeWanna Bonner for the Sun lead. Alyssa Thomas has 12 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists.
Connecticut extends its lead to 15 points late in the quarter.
7:07 left 3Q: Fever call timeout after DeWanna Bonner scores again. Kelsey Mitchell leads Indiana with 14 as Caitlin Clark remains cold (1-of-11 from the field). Sun 52, Fever 43
The Fever take a brief 36-34 lead before the Sun score 9 in a row late in the quarter to get some breathing room.
Kelsey Mitchell has 11 points and Damiris Dontas 10 for the Fever, who are 3-of-14 from 3-point range. Caitlin Clark has 3 points on 1-of-9 shooting.
DeWanna Bonner has 16 points, and Alyssa Thomas 12 with 7 rebounds and 4 assists for Connecticut.
5:31 left 2Q: Damiris Dantis has 8 points off the Indiana bench, and Kelsey Mitchell has 7. Alyssa Thomas has 12 for the Sun. Sun 32, Fever 30
Connecticut’s Tyasha Harris is out for the rest of the game.
Aliyah Boston has 6 points, while Kelsey Mitchell has 5. DeWanna Bonner has 10 for the Sun, while Alyssa Thomas has 6 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Sun 23, Fever 20
6:16 left 1Q: The Heritage Christian High School alum fell awkwardly after defending Lexie Hull on a 3-pointer. She’s slowly being led the locker room. Hull gets 2 free throws. Sun 10, Fever 9
8:27 left 1Q: Caitlin Clark is down briefly after DiJonai Carrington clips her while defending a pass. Sun 5, Fever 2
Fever: Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, Lexie Hull, Aliyah Boston, NaLyssa Smith
Sun: DeWanna Bonner, Alyssa Thomas, Tyasha Harris, Brionna Jones, DiJonai Carrington.
3 p.m. ET Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
TV: ABC
Streaming: Fubo (free trial)
Game 1: 3 p.m. ET Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, at Connecticut
Game 2: 7:30 p.m. ET Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, at Connecticut
Game 3: TBA Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Indiana, if necessary
19.2 points, 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game, along with 34.3% 3-point shooting and 90.5% free throw shooting
Kelsey Mitchell (19.2 points, 40.2% 3-pointers); Caitlin Clark (19.2 points, 8.4 assists, 5.7 rebounds, 34.3% 3-point shooting, 90.5% free throw shooting); Aliyah Boston (14.0 points, 8.9 rebounds); NaLyssa Smith (10.6 points, 7.1 rebounds)
This is all new for almost all the Fever players.
The Indiana Fever released playoff ticket details here.
Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark jerseys, shirts, sweatshirts and hats from Fanatics can be found here.
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