Caitlin Clark and Indiana Fever Fall to Sun, Eliminated from WNBA Playoffs
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The Connecticut Sun continue their pursuit of a first-ever WNBA championship, eliminating Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever with an 87-81 victory in Game 2 on Wednesday, completing a series sweep and ending the Fever’s postseason hopes.
The Sun’s Alyssa Thomas delivered yet another standout performance, marking her fourth consecutive playoff game with 10+ assists. She tallied a team-high 19 points, 13 assists, and five rebounds. Marina Mabrey contributed 17 points, while DeWanna Bonner added 15 points and seven rebounds to the effort.
Despite a strong showing from Caitlin Clark, who led all scorers with 25 points, along with six rebounds and nine assists, the Fever couldn’t secure the win. Aaliyah Boston dominated the paint with 16 points and 19 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to extend Indiana’s playoff run.
The Connecticut Sun advances to the semifinals after sweeping the Indiana Fever, and will now face the winner of the Minneapolis-Phoenix series. The Lynx and Mercury are set to play Game 2 later Wednesday night to determine who moves forward.
Stay tuned for more news, highlights, and key moments from the WNBA playoffs.
Fever at Sun: Game 2 highlights
Another Record for Caitlin Clark as her rookie season ends in an 87-81 loss to the Sun.
The Indiana guard became the first rookie to score 25 points, dish five assists and grab five rebounds in a postseason game. She tied her favorite player, Maya Moore, at the 20-point mark earlier.
Caitlin Clark and Maya Moore Now Share This Stat Following Clark’s Impressive Rookie Season.
Caitlin Clark has joined her childhood idol, Maya Moore, as only the second WNBA rookie in playoff history to achieve the impressive feat of scoring 20 points, grabbing five rebounds, and dishing out five assists. The only other rookie to accomplish this? None other than Maya Moore, Caitlin Clark’s favorite player.
End of 3Q: Connecticut 61, Indiana 52
Perhaps you’ve heard that Alyssa Thomas is playing through the pain of two torn labrums, one in each shoulder. Yet, it hasn’t slowed her down.
In the third quarter, Thomas scored 10 points to propel the Sun to a 61-52 lead. She’s already tallied a double-double with 16 points and 10 assists, and she’s on triple-double watch with five rebounds. Her performance has been crucial in helping the Sun maintain their advantage over Indiana, even as Caitlin Clark reaches the 20-point mark.
Erica Wheeler Takes a Hard Tumble at the End of the First Half
rica Wheeler came charging down the court during the final play of the half but missed an open layup, leading her momentum to carry her into the first row of photographers. The fall appeared awkward, and Wheeler was down for a couple of minutes before getting back up and walking off the court under her own power, holding her midsection. The Fever later reported that Wheeler sustained a thumb injury but will still be able to play.
Halftime Score: Connecticut 41, Indiana 34
Does Anyone for Indiana Want to Play Defense?
It certainly didn’t seem that way in the second quarter, as Connecticut found its rhythm in transition, scoring freely while Indiana largely stood by. The Sun established a 41-34 halftime lead.
Four Sun players have already contributed six points or more, with Marina Mabrey leading the way at nine. Meanwhile, the triple-double queen, Alyssa Thomas, is having a strong game with six points, eight assists, and three rebounds.
On the other end, Caitlin Clark has been instrumental, scoring or assisting on 10 of Indiana’s 13 field goals. She currently has 14 points, four assists, and four rebounds. Aliyah Boston, who returned to the game despite having two fouls, has contributed eight points and 11 rebounds.
The Fever had a chance to trim Connecticut’s lead right at the end of the half, but Erica Wheeler missed a wide-open layup. To make matters worse, she took a hard tumble into the first row—colliding with a cameraman—and now appears to be injured.
