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WNBA playoffs: Caitlin Clark updates, highlights, analysis as Fever face Sun in Game 2

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The Indiana Fever’s first playoff game since 2016 didn’t exactly go as planned.

Caitlin Clark and the rest of her team struggled Sunday with their shooting and were routed by a veteran Connecticut Sun squad in Game 1 of their best-of-three first-round series.

Visiting Indiana knows the task at hand in Wednesday’s Game 2 won’t be easy, and recognizes the immense advantage Connecticut has in postseason experience.

From Yahoo Sports’ Cassandra Negley:

Four of the five Fever starters have fewer than three years of any WNBA experience. They all made deep March Madness runs in college, but came into the first-round series with zero combined games of WNBA playoff experience. That includes seven-year veteran guard Kelsey Mitchell.

Caitlin Clark, who is coming off back-to-back Final Fours, said Tuesday the intensity, pressure and win-or-go-home situation are similar to college, but still different as a rookie at the pro level.

“It’s a learning process for me, too,” Clark said. “Obviously, this is my first playoff. It’s a lot of us on this team’s first playoff. We’re all kind of going through it at the same point and learning. You don’t always know what to expect, because a lot of us have never been here.”

UNCASVILLE, CT - SEPTEMBER 22: Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) drives to the basket against Connecticut Sun forward DeWanna Bonner (24) and Connecticut Sun forward Brionna Jones (42) during the First Round and game 1 of the 2024 WNBA playoffs between Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun on September 22, 2024, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. (Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)UNCASVILLE, CT - SEPTEMBER 22: Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) drives to the basket against Connecticut Sun forward DeWanna Bonner (24) and Connecticut Sun forward Brionna Jones (42) during the First Round and game 1 of the 2024 WNBA playoffs between Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun on September 22, 2024, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. (Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Sun grabbed a 93-69 win over Caitlin Clark and the Fever in Game 1 of the series on Sunday. (M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images)

The Fever have a chance Wednesday night to survive and extend Clark’s magical rookie season. But they will have to shoot better, impose their will in transition and meet the Sun’s intensity.

Live21 updates

  • Christie Sides said yesterday the Fever first needed to handle the Sun’s physicality and that has … not happened. Early foul trouble messed with the Fever’s rotations and chemistry. Fever score back-to-back buckets with Boston back on the floor. Sun lead, 26-20, at 5:52 of the second quarter.

  • 1Q: Sun 17, Fever 14

    Neither team is shooting the ball well (both are 5-20). Connecticut’s defense is getting the job done early; Fever haven’t made a bucket since the 4-minute mark when Clark hit her second 3.

  • Indy challenged that foul call on Mitchell. For the second consecutive game (both times in the first quarter), it was because the refs called the foul on the wrong player. Lexie Hull is charged with the foul, DeWanna Bonner shoots and makes two to give the Sun a 15-14 lead.

  • Not even out of the first quarter and Aliyah Boston is in foul trouble with two. That’s going to hurt. Smith comes in for her. Within a minute, Kelsey Mitchell is called for her second. At this point, the number of players who HAVEN’T chatted with the refs about officiating is quite low.

  • Christie Sides was in a full convo with the ref at the Fever bench after DiJonai Carrington pokes the ball from Clark in the backcourt. Clark came over to chat. Carrington came over afterward.

  • 1Q 4:51 | Fever 10, Sun 4

    A much better start for the Fever. Clark has a quick three points, four rebounds and three assists. Aliyah Boston is putting in work on Bri Jones in the paint with four rebounds and Fagbenle has three. Sun are 1-11 from the field to start.

  • Some fireworks between DeWanna Bonner and Caitlin Clark early. Clark was calling for a foul on a deep 3 point attempt.

  • Caitlin Clark hits her first shot — a 3-pointer — at 9:33 of the first quarter.

  • oh, OK, Caitlin Clark is starting this one with a 3. Classic Caitlin unlocked?

  • Both sides spoke of urgency. Indiana is playing to extend its season. The Sun don’t want to take this to Indianapolis for two reasons. First, that place is going to be ROCKING for a Game 3. And if the Sun wrap this up tonight, they’ll have a few more rest days before the semifinals begin on Sunday. If No. 2 seed Minnesota wins its series against Phoenix, Connecticut will start on the road.

  • Game 2 is about to tip off here at Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut. Two major lineup changes:

    Fever: Temi Fagbenle is in for NaLyssa Smith. Smith played 8:53 in Game 1 and didn’t score (one attempt). Fagbenle also did not score in 12:57 of action, but is one of the few Fever players with playoff experience and is a great running mate with Clark in transition. It’s her third start of the season.

    Sun: Head coach Stephanie White said pre-game Ty Harris would not be able to go after injuring her leg in Game 1. Marina Mabrey is getting the start. It’s her fourth with Connecticut after the midseason trade.







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