Caitlin Clark, Fever Trail at Halftime in Playoff Opener

WNBA playoff season has officially arrived, and for the first time in almost ten years, the Indiana Fever are making an appearance. The Fever secured the No. 6 seed in the playoffs, thanks in large part to the stellar performance of rookie sensation Caitlin Clark, who was drafted first overall in April. With this achievement, the excitement shifts to whether the Fever can win a playoff series or even a single playoff game.

The Fever’s playoff journey kicks off this Sunday, as they face the third-seeded Connecticut Sun in their opponent’s home arena. During the regular season, the Fever and the Sun clashed four times, with Connecticut emerging victorious in three of those matchups. However, Indiana triumphed most recently with a narrow 84-80 win on August 28.

Caitlin Clark, the standout rookie, has garnered immense attention and accolades throughout the season, contributing to the league’s unprecedented popularity. On the day of the game, A’ja Wilson was named the unanimous MVP, and it was revealed that Clark finished ahead of Connecticut guard/forward Alyssa Thomas in MVP voting, securing fourth place with 130 votes compared to Thomas’ fifth with 83. This adds an intriguing layer to their upcoming encounters—especially for Thomas, who may channel this as motivation in their best-of-three series.

Adding to the anticipation is the presence of Connecticut guard Marina Mabrey. Traded to the Sun just before the Olympic break, Mabrey played her first game against Indiana in their last matchup, a game in which both teams were still finding their rhythm. Now, she has become an integral part of Connecticut’s offense, potentially serving as a crucial factor in the series.

With the game underway, fans are keeping an eye on Alyssa Thomas, the versatile veteran from Connecticut, who is already making an impact. By halftime, she recorded 12 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, helping the Sun to a 46-38 lead. Conversely, DeWanna Bonner had a standout performance for Connecticut, scoring a team-high of 16 points, while Clark struggled to find her shooting rhythm, going 1-of-9 from the field in the early stages.

Leading the Fever, Kelsey Mitchell scored 11 points, with Aliyah Boston contributing eight points and five rebounds. The contest has been tightly contested, featuring five lead changes and six ties. A significant factor has been turnovers; Connecticut converted on seven of Indiana’s turnovers, while the Fever have yet to capitalize on the Sun’s five mistakes.

In an unfortunate turn of events, Connecticut guard Ty Harris sustained an ankle injury midway through the first quarter. Harris was helped off the court after rolling her ankle on Lexie Hull’s foot while contesting a three-point shot. Subsequently, she returned to the bench on crutches with her ankle heavily wrapped, confirming she would not return to the game. This injury may lead to an increased role for Mabrey for the remainder of the match.

At the end of the first quarter, the Sun led 23-20, largely thanks to Bonner’s hot start, who had 10 points. Both teams displayed teamwork with an impressive combined total of 12 assists on 16 made field goals. Connecticut established dominance in the paint with a 14-8 scoring advantage and also managed to secure eight fast-break points compared to Indiana’s none. Clark showed resilience, managing to score her first playoff points with a deft reverse layup as the first quarter closed.

Meanwhile, New York Liberty opened their playoff campaign successfully, defeating the Atlanta Dream 83-69 in their series opener. Rookie Leonie Fiebich led the Liberty with 21 points, showcasing her shooting prowess by making 7-of-8 attempts from the field. Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart supported with 17 and 20 points, respectively. Furthermore, Courtney Vandersloot became the league’s all-time playoff assists leader during the game.

Both teams in the Fever-Sun series are fighting for a chance to advance, with the dynamics of the matches expected to keep fans on their toes. Game 1 promises to be just the beginning of a thrilling postseason, as the Fever aim to solidify their comeback and the Sun seek to prove their mettle in the playoffs.

Source: USA Today