UNCASVILLE, Conn. – The Indiana Fever’s playoff run with WNBA rookie of the year Caitlin Clark came to a halt on Wednesday night in Mohegan Sun Arena with the team bowing to the Connecticut Sun 87-81 to advance to the semifinals for the sixth consecutive year.
Clark ended the chapter of her rookie season with another record by being the first rookie in playoff history to score at least 25 points, grab at least 5 rebounds and make at least 5 assists in one game.
She ended Game 2 as the Fever’s leading scorer with 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists.
But it did not come easy for the veteran Connecticut team.
There was some early animosity between Clark and DeWanna Bonner and the contentiousness between both teams continued throughout the night. Connecticut then had a run of 16-2 at one point in the game.
Clark was able to help the Fever come back into the game but the Sun proved too strong in the later part of the game.
Clark brought the Fever to within one point with a 26-footer with 4 minutes to go in the third quarter. But Marina Mabrey replied immediately for the Sun. The teams traded baskets over the next two minutes or so with Bonner eventually nailing a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:50 remaining in the game.
September 25, 2024; Uncasville, Connecticut, USA; Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark (22) controls the ball during the first half of the second match of the first round of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs at Mohegan Sun Arena. >(Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images)
Mabrey would hit another clutch 3-pointer to put the Sun up four points with 46.1 seconds The Fever struggled to get any more points on the board and Connecticut would put it away.
Thomas scored 19 points, 13 assists and five rebounds for the Sun. Bonner made 15 points and eight rebounds. Mabrey also made three 3-pointers and scored 17 points.
DiJonai Carrington, who was awarded the Most Improved Player in the WNBA before the game, scored 10 points and grabbed 4 rebounds.
Kelsey Mitchell scored 17 points and Aliyah Boston scored 16 points for the Fever.
The Sun will advance to the next round and will face the winner of the series between the Minnesota Lynx and the Phoenix Mercury.