November 17, 2024
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WNBA Playoffs: Katelyn Clarke updates, highlights, analysis as Fever faces Sun in Game 2

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WNBA Playoffs: Katelyn Clarke updates, highlights, analysis as Fever faces Sun in Game 2

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

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

Going to Indiana in Game 2 on Wednesday knows it won’t be easy, and recognizes the enormous advantage Connecticut has in postseason experience.

From Cassandra Negley of Yahoo Sports:

Four of the five Fever starters have less than three years of any WNBA experience. They all had 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 said the intensity, pressure and win-or-go-home situation Tuesday is similar to college, but even more different as a rookie at the pro level.

“It’s been a learning process for me, too,” Clark said. “Obviously, this is my first playoff. It’s a lot of us in this team’s first playoff. We’re all going through the same phase and learning. You never know what to expect because a lot of us haven’t 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 Briona Jones (42) during the first round and Game 1 of the 2024 WNBA playoffs. Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun on September 22, 2024 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. (Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Getty Images via ICON Sportswire)

The Suns beat Caitlin Clark and the Fever 93-69 in Game 1 of the series on Sunday. (M. Anthony Nesmith/ICON Sportswire/Getty Images)

The Fever have a chance to survive Wednesday night and extend Clark’s magical freshman season. But they need to shoot better, impose their will on change and meet the intensity of the sun.

live34 updates

  • 4Q: Sun 68, Fever 63

    The Fever hung around a seven-point deficit throughout the second half. Dantas and Fagbenle were on offense the last few possessions, but they couldn’t get the ball stuck. AT (19p/10a/5r) stopped Faulkbenle, who had trouble controlling the ball, repeatedly committing a shot clock violation on a few possessions. Indiana’s defense needs stops to make it and force a Game 3.

  • 4Q: Sun 61, Fever 52

    The Suns lead by nine points with two more buckets (16p/10a/5r) and seven players in points for Thomas.

    Clark finished with 20 points, six assists, five rebounds. Boston (12p/17r) and Mitchell (10p) were also in double figures, but Hull was 1-5 from 3-point range and Faulknerle didn’t score. Two-wheeler free throws are the only pemch points.

  • 3Q 2:03 | Sun 57, Fever 50

    Alyssa Thomas had 12 points, 10 assists and four rebounds for the Suns

  • Fever ties it up quickly at 41, forcing Sun to set time at 8:19. Lexi Hull 3 on Clark assist, Clark Drive, Boston Deflects a Clark assist

  • Half: Sun 41, Fever 34

    Caitlin Clark led all scorers with 14 points (5-12/2-7). He and Kelsey Mitchell (total 7 points, 3-8) each played 20 minutes of the first half. Clark was frustrated late in the half as Boston’s Erica Wheeler brought the ball up on a quick inbound pass.

    Connecticut has the Fever at the same scoring pace as in the first game, which was a season low for the Fever. White said the game before playing with Mabrey in the starting lineup, her reserve energy needs to be found elsewhere. That was clearly Veronica Burton, whose eight points were one of Mabrey’s team-high nine. She played for 11 minutes.

  • Erica Wheeler flew into the camera people in front of the VIP section. A few minutes after the buzzer she was on the floor as everyone in the fever went to check on her. They surrounded her with towels and sidekicks waved her players toward the locker room. Moments later, Wheeler exited through another tunnel.

  • 2Q 2:21 | Sun 33, Fever 26

    I hope you are not here for crime. The Sun is now winning the battle of styles and making it look ugly. Each team shoots 30% overall, 20% from 3. Clark leads all scorers with 10 points.

    In good news for the Fever, their 11 fast break points are already more than in Game 1 (nine). After folding in the first meeting they are connected to the paint points.

  • Christy Sides said yesterday that the fever should first deal with the body of the Sun and that didn’t happen…a confusing initial misproblem in the cycles and chemistry of the fever. Fever scores back-to-back buckets, Boston back on the floor. The Suns lead, 26-20, at 5:52 of the second quarter.

  • 1K: Sun 17, Fever 14

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

  • Indy challenged the foul call on Mitchell. For the second straight game (both in the first quarter), the refs called a foul on the wrong player. Lexi Hull was charged with a foul and Devanna Bonner made a double to give the Suns a 15-14 lead.

  • Not even out in the first quarter and Aaliyah Boston is in foul trouble with two. It’s going to hurt. Smith comes for her. Less than a minute later, Kelsey Mitchell is called a second time. At this point, the number of players who don’t talk about referees is very low.

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