Caitlin Clark faced a challenging night as she was poked in the eye during the game, while the Indiana Fever experienced a tough defeat, losing to the Connecticut Sun 93-69 in Game 1 of the WNBA playoffs.
The Fever will look to recover in Game 2 of the best-of-three series, scheduled for Wednesday night in Connecticut, with a potential Game 3 set for Friday in Indianapolis if needed.
Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with 21 points, while Aliyah Boston contributed 17 points and 11 rebounds. Clark struggled throughout the game, scoring only 11 points on 4-of-17 shooting and combining with Mitchell for a dismal 4-of-23 from beyond the arc. Off the bench, Damiris Dantas added 12 points.
Marina Mabrey was a standout for the Sun, scoring 27 points, while Alyssa Thomas achieved a triple-double, finishing with 13 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds. DeWanna Bonner also had a strong performance with 22 points.
The Fever started the game with 20 points in the first quarter, but Connecticut tightened its defense for the remainder of the match. Indiana finished shooting 40.3% from the field and only 21.4% from three-point range.
In an unfortunate incident in the first quarter, Clark received a poke in the eye from Connecticut’s DiJonai Carrington but did not need to leave the game. Her overall stats included 11 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, while committing 2 turnovers.
Connecticut took control of the game in the second half, with Mabrey finding her stride and extending the lead. Despite Clark’s struggles, she made a couple of three-pointers late in the game. The Fever fell short against a determined Sun team, trailing as the lead grew to 15 points late in the quarter.
The series continues on Wednesday, and the Fever are hoping to find their rhythm as they aim to stay alive in the playoffs.