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WNBA Playoffs: Sun beats Caitlin Clark and Fever to reach semifinals and end her rookie season

Posted on by Vanessa
WNBA Playoffs: Sun beats Caitlin Clark and Fever to reach semifinals and end her rookie season

UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT – SEPTEMBER 25: Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever and teammate Lexie Hull #10 show camaraderie as they play against the Connecticut Sun in the first quarter of game two of the first round of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs at Mohegan Sun Arena on September 25, 2024 in Uncasville, Connecticut. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)

Caitlin Clark's rookie season in the WNBA is now over. (Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)

Caitlin Clark’s rookie season is now over.

Alyssa Thomas and the Connecticut Sun wrapped up their first round playoff series against Clark and the Indiana Fever on Wednesday night. The Sun held on in a close battle in the final minutes to take an 87-81 victory over the Fever in the second game of their series at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

That win, which followed a 24-point victory in Game 1 on Sunday night, put the Sun in the semifinals for the sixth consecutive year. They will now face either the Minnesota Lynx or Phoenix Mercury in the next round. It's now home to Indianapolis for Clark and the Fever, who were playing in their first postseason since 2016.

The Sun led by 11 points early in the fourth quarter, but allowed Clark and the Fever to catch up and briefly take the lead late in the quarter – this came after a crucial 3-pointer by Clark.

But the Fever's attempt to extend their season ultimately failed. In the final two minutes of the game, the Fever scored just two baskets, both layups, and both DeWanna Bonner and Marina Mabery hit 3-pointers that gave the Sun the lead again. From there, they battled their way forward, taking the six-point lead and securing their spot in the semifinals.

Clark, who was named Rookie of the Year earlier this week, had 25 points, nine assists and six rebounds in the loss for the Fever. She shot 10 of 23 from the field and 3 of 12 from behind the three-point line. She also became just the second rookie in league history, joining Maya Moore, to record 25 points, five assists and five rebounds in a playoff game. Aliyah Boston added 16 points and 19 rebounds, and Kelsey Mitchell finished with 17 points. They were the only three players to score in double figures for Indiana.

Alyssa Thomas led the Sun with 19 points and 13 assists after posting a triple-double in Game 1. Mabrey added 17 points and Bonner finished with 15 points and eight rebounds.

Live44 updates

  • Caitlin Clark's rookie season ends right where she started in Connecticut. This is a young group with a core in Clark and Boston that will compete for a championship in a few years. But it takes losses like this to get there. Expect the Fever to sign a veteran with plenty of playoff experience in the offseason, possibly at the 3rd or 4th position if they re-sign Mitchell (UFA).

  • Mitchell goes into a black jersey and Sun is back at the free throw line. DeWanna Bonner scores two more points and the game seems to be over. Everyone is on their feet.

  • Mitchell misses another three-pointer, Sun grabs the rebound and Indiana fouls DiJonai Carrington, putting her on the line and ending the game. She converts both fouls and extends Connecticut's lead to six points.

  • Two bad turnovers by Indiana. Hull throws the ball away on a play out of bounds. Mitchell throws the ball away after grabbing her own rebound on a short three. And Marina Mabrey (who else?) sinks the three at the other end to increase the lead to four with 45.5 seconds on the clock.

  • https://x.com/stevejones20/status/1839114742402589012

  • It's another monster game for Boston. Clark and Boston are the youngest on this young team and not far from crucial March Madness moments. Sun leads 78-77 with 1:28 left.

  • TIE BALL GAME

    The cheering continued long after Clark's three-pointer gave Indiana a 71-70 lead. She led Indiana back with a fadeaway, a rebound and a hockey assist on the Fagbenle 3 (Hull gets the assist). She now has 25 points, seven assists and six rebounds.

    Marina Mabrey responded at the other end with a 3, Fagbenle equalized to 73:73 after a Boston assist. It will be a good last three minutes.

  • CAITLIN CLARK PUTS INDIANA INTO THE LEAD WITH A 3!

  • 4Q: Sun 68, Fever 63

    Fever seemingly held a seven-point deficit for the entire second half. Dantas and Fagbenle are involved in the offense on the last few possessions, but they can't let the ball hang. AT (19p/10a/5r) repeatedly stopped Fagbenle, who had trouble controlling the ball, on a few possessions and committed a shot clock violation. Indiana's defense will need to get stops to make up for it and force Game 3.

  • 4Q: Sun 61, Fever 52

    Two more baskets for Thomas (16p/10a/5r) and the Sun's lead in the scoring with seven players is nine points.

    Clark has 20 points, six assists and five rebounds. Boston (12 points/17 rebounds) and Mitchell (10 points) are also in double figures, but Hull is only 1 of 5 three-pointers and Fagbenle has yet to make a hit. The only points for the underdogs are two free throws by Wheeler.

  • Sun 57, fever 50

    Alyssa Thomas scored 12 points, 10 assists and four rebounds for the Sun

  • Fever quickly equalizes to 41:41 and forces the Sun to take a timeout at 8:19. Lexie Hull 3 after a Clark assist, Clark drive, Boston blocks a Clark assist

  • HALF: Sun 41, fever 34

    Caitlin Clark led the way with 14 points (5-12/2-7). She and Kelsey Mitchell (7 points, 3-8 overall) played all 20 minutes of the first half. Clark seemed frustrated at the end of the half because Erica Wheeler was moving the ball forward on quick throw-ins from Boston.

    Connecticut held the Fever to the same scoring pace as in the first game, which was nearly a season low for the Fever. White said before the game that with Mabrey in the starting lineup, they would have to find their reserve energy elsewhere. That's clearly Veronica Burton, whose eight points are one point shy of Mabrey's team-high nine. She played 11 minutes.

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