Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever are set to face the Connecticut Sun in the 2024 WNBA playoffs, marking the Fever’s return to the postseason for the first time since 2016. The Sun secured the third seed by decisively defeating the Chicago Sky, 85-54, in their final regular-season game on Thursday.
Clark’s performance has been instrumental in Indiana’s playoff berth, with her being a strong contender for the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year award. The Fever’s roster features veteran guard Kelsey Mitchell, who is currently in her seventh season, but none of the Fever starters have playoff experience. In contrast, the Sun’s core group has participated in several deep playoff runs, including a trip to the WNBA Finals in 2022, where they were defeated by the Las Vegas Aces. Additionally, the Sun bolstered their lineup earlier this season by acquiring guard Marina Mabrey, known for her shooting ability.
According to the WNBA playoff format, the seventh-seeded Fever will face the third-seeded Sun in a best-of-three series. The higher seed hosts the first two games, while a potential Game 3 will be played at the lower-seeded team’s venue.
The schedule for the Indiana vs. Connecticut playoff series is as follows:
– Game 1: Sunday, September 22 at Connecticut, 3 p.m. ET on ABC
– Game 2: Wednesday, September 25 at Connecticut, 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
– Game 3 (if necessary): Friday, September 27 at Indiana, time TBA on ESPN2
This season, the Fever and Sun have faced each other four times, with Connecticut leading the series 3-1. In those matchups, Clark’s performance has varied:
– May 14: Connecticut 92, Indiana 71 – Clark scored 20 points on 5-of-15 shooting, along with 3 assists and 10 turnovers.
– May 20: Connecticut 88, Indiana 84 – Clark had 17 points, shooting 5-of-11 from the field.
– June 10: Connecticut 89, Indiana 72 – Clark scored 10 points with 2 assists.
– August 28: Indiana 84, Connecticut 80 – Clark recorded 19 points and 5 assists.
Notably, Indiana’s only win against Connecticut this season came after the Olympic break, during which Clark and the Fever improved significantly, posting a 9-4 record in the latter part of the season.
In the playoffs, Clark is expected to be defended by DiJonai Carrington, one of the league’s top perimeter defenders. The matchup has sparked a rivalry as Carrington has expressed frustration over Clark’s reactions to foul calls. Despite their individual confrontations, it’s evident that Carrington is committed to challenging Clark’s game, as she has struggled against the Sun, shooting only 39% in their encounters.
The Sun are known for their exceptional defensive capabilities and have several players who can disrupt Clark and the Fever’s offense. Should Carrington not be assigned to Clark, the Fever can expect tough defensive coverage from veterans DeWanna Bonner or Alyssa Thomas.
Overall, while Indiana has demonstrated impressive play recently, particularly from Mitchell and Lexie Hull, they face a challenging series ahead.