Caitlin Clark’s Shooting Woes, Fever Fall to Sun 93-69 in Playoff Game 1

UNCASVILLE, Conn. — The Indiana Fever faced a challenging start to their playoff journey, losing their first game against the Connecticut Sun with a score of 93-69 at Mohegan Sun Arena on Sunday afternoon.

The Fever now trail 0-1 in the best-of-3 playoff series. Connecticut can secure a series victory as early as Wednesday in the same venue, while Indiana will aim to push the series back to Indianapolis for a must-win game on Friday.

Here are three key takeaways from the game.

Caitlin Clark encountered difficulties early on, significantly impacting her performance. Just a minute and a half into the game, Clark was on the ground after being poked in the eye by Sun guard DiJonai Carrington. After a brief timeout, she made her way back onto the court but appeared to be in considerable pain.

As the first half progressed, it became evident that her injury affected her shooting. By halftime, she was seen with a developing black eye and had yet to score a 3-pointer. Clark ended the first half with only three points, making just 1-of-9 shots from the field and coming up empty on all six attempts from beyond the arc.

She showed signs of improvement in the third quarter, nailing two 3-pointers and adding a layup, bringing her total points to 11. However, the Sun fought hard to limit both her and Kelsey Mitchell’s scoring opportunities. Ultimately, Clark finished with 4-of-17 shooting and 2-of-13 from 3-point range.

The Fever also faced struggles related to officiating and game flow, especially in the first half. Clark’s incident was compounded by other questionable calls. They utilized their challenge early on, successfully overturning a foul on Aliyah Boston that had been incorrectly assigned to her.

Indiana head coach Christie Sides was visibly frustrated with the officiating, leading to a technical foul when she argued a call that did not go their way. The situation escalated to the point where Erica Wheeler had to intervene to keep Sides from getting into further discussions with the referees.

In addition to the controversy on the court, the Fever’s fast-paced transition game was disrupted by recurring shot clock malfunctions. This issue arose on three separate occasions in the first half, affecting the team’s rhythm and the style of play they prefer to execute.

Amid the turmoil, Damiris Dantas stepped up as a crucial player for the Fever off the bench. With playoff experience from her time contributing to the Minnesota Lynx’s championship run in 2015, Dantas showcased her skills by scoring 10 points in the first half, hitting two 3-pointers that helped to keep the Fever competitive.

Throughout the game, Dantas proved to be a valuable asset, effectively spreading the floor and allowing for offensive opportunities. In total, she played 23 minutes, wrapping up with 12 points, which surpassed the playing time of NaLyssa Smith, who only managed nine minutes.

The Fever now have the challenge of regrouping and preparing for their next match against the Sun. They will need to address their shooting struggles and maintain better control of the game to stay alive in the series. As it stands, Indiana is looking to regain momentum and find a way to level the series before returning home.

Source: Indianapolis Star