Alyssa Thomas led the Connecticut Sun to an 87-81 victory over the Indiana Fever on Wednesday night, helping the team to sweep Indiana out of the playoffs. Thomas recorded 19 points and 13 assists in the game. The third-seeded Sun will advance to the semifinals, where they will face either Minnesota or Phoenix starting Sunday.
Caitlin Clark improved her performance in Game 2, scoring 25 points and providing nine assists, but it was not enough to secure a win for the Fever. Aliyah Boston contributed significantly with 16 points and an impressive 19 rebounds. Boston put Indiana ahead 77-75 with a layup with 2:05 remaining, but DeWanna Bonner responded quickly with a 3-pointer soon after, marking her 82nd playoff game, tying the WNBA record.
Both teams struggled to score in the ensuing possessions until Marina Mabrey hit a crucial 3-pointer with 45.5 seconds left, extending the Sun’s lead to 81-77. Kelsey Mitchell’s missed 3-pointer on the Fever’s subsequent possession allowed Connecticut to seal the game with free throws.
After trailing by seven at halftime, the Fever opened the third quarter strong, tying the game with a quick seven-point run. The teams exchanged baskets until Lexie Hull’s layup briefly gave Indiana a lead. However, Thomas spearheaded a 14-4 run to close out the period with the Sun in command.
Clark’s 3-pointer gave the Fever a brief 71-70 lead with just under four minutes remaining, but Bonner’s subsequent 3-pointer shifted the momentum back towards Connecticut.
Indiana started strong, leading 14-6 before Connecticut mounted an 11-point run to close the first quarter with a three-point advantage. A security incident involving a fan was quickly resolved without further issues. Connecticut continued their momentum into the second quarter, building a lead of 26-16 after a layup from Carrington, and went into halftime ahead 41-34.
Carrington was celebrated before the game as the league’s Most Improved Player. However, the half ended with Erica Wheeler sustaining an injury after a dramatic layup attempt that saw her collide with photographers. She had her left thumb examined and did not return for the second half. Clark concluded the first half with 14 points, four rebounds, and four assists. The Sun had to make do without starting guard Tyasha Harris, who was sidelined due to an ankle injury from Sunday’s game, with Mabrey stepping into the starting role.