Caitlin Clark, Fever have 'crappy game' in loss to Sun in WNBA playoffs

A record-breaking performance from Marina Mabrey, playing in her first postseason with the Connecticut Sun, helped the third-seeded Sun to a 93-69 win over sixth-seeded Indiana in Game 1 of the quarterfinals Sunday.

Mabrey scored 27 points off the bench, a WNBA record for the playoffs, connecting on 9-of-20 shots, including 5-of-12 from 3. But that might not have even been the most impressive performance Sunday, as Sun guard/forward Alyssa Thomas turned in her fourth career triple-double (12 points, 13 assists, 10 rebounds) of the postseason.

Caitlin Clark finished with 11 points on 4-of-17 shooting for the Fever, including 2-of-13 from 3. She also dished eight assists, and turned the ball over just twice. Kelsey Mitchell led Indiana with 21 points, while Aliyah Boston added 17 points and 11 rebounds.

DeWanna Bonner chipped in 22 points as the Sun held Indiana to just 21.4% from 3 (6-of-28) in the statement win. The Sun’s bench outscored Indiana’s bench 41-15.

Game 2 is Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., again at Connecticut. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.

Another ‘crappy game’ in Connecticut for Indiana Fever

Before the Indiana Fever took on the Connecticut Sun in round one of the WNBA playoffs, Caitlin Clark told reporters she hasn’t been very happy with the way she’s played in Mohegan Sun Arena.

That continued Sunday — by her own estimation at least — as she described Sunday’s loss as a “crappy game.”

“We were right there, I felt like we just played a crappy game,” Clark said afterward. “The flow was really bad, I don’t know if that was the reffing, it was probably partly us because we struggled to get stops at time(s), but also the clock getting messed up, it was just one thing after the next,” she said.

Numerous times during the first half the game clock was malfunctioning, causing stoppage in play and officials to head to the scorers' table to try to fix the problem. 

Asked if there’s something particular about the Sun’s arena that she doesn’t like, Clark smiled.

“We can win,” she said. “It’s not anything about the building, it’s not about the gym, it’s not about the hoops. I have all the confidence in the world in this team, and everybody in our locker room does and I know we’ll be a lot better Wednesday.”

Connecticut is expecting the same, too. DeWanna Bonner guarded Clark the most Sunday — a change from the regular season, when Dijonai Carrington typically drew the assignment — and, according to ESPN, Clark shot just 2-of-9 with Bonner guarding her (Clark finished the game 4-of-17).

“I know the next game, she’s gonna come out firing,” Bonner said of Clark.

Game 1 highlights: Connecticut 93, Indiana 69

DeWanna Bonner on Alyssa Thomas: ‘Her time, every year'

Alyssa Thomas is known for triple-doubles — she’s recorded 12 in her WNBA career — but what’s even more impressive, according to her teammates, is when those stuff-the-stat-sheet games come in the playoffs.

Thomas had the fourth postseason triple double of her career Sunday, a feat that the Connecticut Sun have come to expect.

“She kinda gets us in places we need to be. It’s great to have a player who can read the game the way she can. I just go where she tells me,” guard DeWanna Bonner said afterward, laughing. She added that for Thomas, the postseason is “her time, every year. I don’t expect anything less (than triple doubles).”

Marina Mabrey, who scored 27 points off the bench, also praised Thomas, saying that whenever they’re on the floor together, Thomas “always finds me.” That’s especially true when Mabrey gets hot from the perimeter, as she did Sunday, connecting on 5-of-12 3-point attempts.

MORE:'Marvel at it now:' A’ja Wilson’s greatness on display as Aces pursue WNBA three-peat

MORE:WNBA postseason preview: Strengths and weaknesses for all 8 playoff teams

Alyssa Thomas notches triple-double

Alyssa Thomas likes to pride herself on doing a little bit of everything for the Connecticut Sun. And Sunday, in her first game of the 2024 playoffs, Thomas did exactly that.

The veteran guard/forward recorded her fourth career triple-double of the postseason (and 12th overall in her career including regular season games) with 12 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds.

Earlier Sunday, the WNBA announced that Thomas had finished fifth in 2024 MVP voting — behind Caitlin Clark of the Fever. A'ja Wilson won her third MVP. Napheesa Collier finished second in voting and Breanna Stewart third.

Caitlin Clark sporting black eye

After getting inadvertently poked in the eye early in the first quarter by Dijonai Carrington, Caitlin Clark has the beginnings of a black eye.

No foul was called on the play. Clark was on the ground for a few minutes holding her eye, but she didn’t miss any time and returned to play immediately.

End of 3Q: Connecticut 68, Indiana 57

Caitlin Clark finally hit her first 3 — and shortly after, her second — but the Fever can’t close the gap against a very experienced Connecticut Sun team. The Sun lead, 68-57.

Going into Sunday, Connecticut had played 222 playoff games in franchise history. Indiana, meanwhile, had played just 19. That experience is showing this quarter, as the Sun built as much as a 15-point lead. Much of that was due to the hot shooting of Marina Mabrey, who had 11 points in the third quarter, including nine points on three 3s.

Alyssa Thomas is agonizingly close to a triple-double, with 12 points, nine assists and nine rebounds going into the fourth quarter.

Clark has hit two 3s and is now at 11 points, six assists and two steals.

Halftime: Connecticut 46, Indiana 38

We’re officially on triple-double watch for Alyssa Thomas.

The do-everything veteran from Connecticut already has 12 points, seven rebounds and six assists, helping the Sun to its biggest lead of the game at halftime, 46-38.

Meanwhile, Connecticut’s DeWanna Bonner has a team-high 16 points and has harassed Caitlin Clark into a rough shooting start. Clark is just 1-of-9 from the field, including 0-of-6 from 3. She has four assists and no turnovers through the first 20 minutes.

Kelsey Mitchell leads the Fever with 11 points. Aliyah Boston has eight and five rebounds.

It’s been a tight, back-and-forth contest with five lead changes and six ties already. One of the biggest differences so far: Connecticut has 11 points off seven Indiana turnovers, while the Fever haven’t scored any points off the Sun’s five turnovers.

Ty Harris out for remainder of Game 1

Connecticut guard Ty Harris, who badly rolled her right ankle midway through the first quarter, will not return to Game 1 on Sunday.

Harris was helped off the floor after stepping on Lexie Hull’s foot and went straight to the locker room. She returned to the bench on crutches at the beginning of the second quarter with her ankle heavily wrapped.

In her absence, Marina Mabrey will likely play more minutes and start the second half.

ABC showed her in a boot with about 4 minutes left in the game.

End of Q1: Connecticut 23, Indiana 20

In a choppy, physical first quarter the Connecticut Sun took a 23-20 lead over the Indiana Fever, led by the hot hand of DeWanna Bonner, who already has 10 points.

Both teams are moving the ball well, combining for 12 assists on 16 made field goals.

Connecticut has a 14-8 edge in points in the paint and has scored eight fast break points to Indiana’s zero.

Caitlin Clark has three points, scoring on a tough layup and hitting one of two free throws.

Caitlin Clark scores first points of WNBA playoff career

Clark drove the court down the right side, worked her way under the basket and finished off with a tough reverse layup for her first points of her WNBA postseason career. She scored with 3:16 remaining in the first quarter, making it 16-16.

Ty Harris twists ankle, down for Sun

Connecticut guard Ty Harris, a starter for the Sun who averaged 10.5 points and 3.0 assists during the regular season, went down with a right ankle injury with 6:16 to play in the first quarter and had to be helped to the bench.

Harris went flying out to contest a 3 from Indiana’s Lexie Hull and landed on Hull’s foot as she came down, badly rolling her right ankle. She went straight back to the locker room. ABC reported she was doubtful to return.

Indiana Fever at Connecticut Sun

The Fever travel to the Sun for Game 1 of their best-of-three first-round playoff series Sunday.

What time is Game 1 of Indiana Fever at Connecticut Sun?

Game time is 3 p.m.

How to watch Indiana Fever at Connecticut Sun

The game will be broadcast on ABC. It will be available to view on demand on WNBA League Pass after it concludes. Fans can get the WNBA League Pass by downloading the WNBA app.

How to stream Indiana Fever at Connecticut Sun

The game can be streamed on Fubo.

Liberty rout Dream 83-69 in first WNBA playoff game

Behind 21 points from rookie Leonie Fiebich the New York Liberty easily handled Game 1 of its series against Atlanta Sunday, beating the Dream 83-69 to take a 1-0 lead in the three-game series.

Fiebich, a rookie from Germany who played for the German national team this summer at the Paris Olympics, shot 7-of-8 from the field, including 4-of-4 from 3. Sabrina Ionescu chipped in 17 points while Breanna Stewart recorded a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds.

New York guard Courtney Vandersloot, one of the best passers in the WNBA, became the league’s career playoff assists leader, passing 13-time All-Star Sue Bird, who played 19 seasons in Seattle. Vandersloot handed out three assists Sunday, bringing her career playoff total to 365.

Rhyne Howard scored 14 to lead the Dream.

The teams meet for Game 2, also in New York, on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.

Sun starting lineup for Game 1

Fever starting lineup for Game 1

Indiana Fever vs. Connecticut Sun postseason schedule

• Sunday, Game 1: Connecticut 93, Indiana 69
• Wednesday, Game 2: Indiana at Connecticut (7:30 p.m., ESPN)
• Friday, Game 3*: Connecticut at Indiana (TBD, ESPN 2)

(* - If necessary; all times Eastern)

WNBA postseason schedule

Sunday:

• Game 1: New York 83, Atlanta 69
• Game 1: Connecticut 93, Indiana 69
• Game 1: Minnesota 102, Phoenix 95
• Game 1: Seattle at Las Vegas (10 p.m., ESPN)

Tuesday:

• Game 2: Atlanta at New York (7:30 p.m., ESPN)
• Game 2: Seattle at Las Vegas (9:30 p.m., ESPN)

Wednesday:

• Game 2: Indiana at Connecticut (7:30 p.m., ESPN)
• Game 2: Phoenix at Minnesota (9:30 p.m., ESPN)

Thursday:

• Game 3*: New York at Atlanta (TBD, ESPN 2)
• Game 3*: Las Vegas at Seattle (TBD, ESPN 2)

Friday:

• Game 3*: Connecticut at Indiana (TBD, ESPN 2)
• Game 3*: Minnesota at Phoenix (TBD, ESPN 2)

(* - If necessary; all times Eastern)

Indiana Fever vs. Connecticut Sun: USA TODAY reporters' picks

• Nancy Armour: Sun over Fever in 2
• Scooby Axson: Sun over Fever in 2
• Ellen J. Horrow: Sun over Fever in 3
• Jordan Mendoza: Sun over Fever in 3
• Lindsay Schnell: Sun over Fever in 2

Read more prognostications and analysis here.

Caitlin Clark finishes fourth in MVP voting

A'ja Wilson won her third MVP award Sunday, joining Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie and Lauren Jackson as the only players with three. Wilson joined Cynthia Cooper (1997) as the only players selected in a unanimous vote. And the Las Vegas Aces star did it by becoming the first WNBA player to lead the league in points, rebounds and blocks.

Caitlin Clark, who is expected to easily win Rookie of the Year, finished fourth in the voting, behind Napheesa Collier, of the Minnesota Lynx, and Breanna Stewart of the Aces.

Caitlin Clark rewrites WNBA record books. Again. And again.

The Fever rookie made headlines all summer with her head-turning play. Revisit her accomplishments in this graphic.

How Caitlin Clark helped change Lexie Hull's game

Like most WNBA fans, Lexie Hull consumes a lot of Caitlin Clark content. 

Any time Clark breaks a record, says something interesting or, like, sneezes, Hull is made aware. 

But when Hull, Clark and Katie Lou Samuelson traveled with their boyfriends (in Samuelson’s case, husband) to Mexico for a much-needed beach vacation during the WNBA Olympic break, Hull learned something new about Clark. 

The No. 1 pick of the 2024 draft and the overwhelming favorite to win Rookie of the Year is . . . funny. 

Goofy, even. A prankster. 

“She loves to stir up some trouble, that’s for sure. If you need a laugh, she’ll get it done for you,” Hull told USA TODAY Sports. Read full story here.

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