Sports
UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT — Caitlin Clark’s postseason profession began honest where her WNBA profession started: on the Mohegan Sun Area, the residence of the Connecticut Sun. 5 months after the the Sun blew out the Indiana Fever on opening evening, they did so all all over again, besides for this time the stakes were a total bunch better.
The Sun opened the playoffs with a 93-69 win over the Fever, taking a 1-0 lead into the first recreation of the postseason, a simplest-of-three series in opposition to one of the well-known hottest younger groups in the league.
DeWanna Bonner and Alyssa Thomas were key in the first half of, nonetheless it used to be Marina Mabrey who blew things commence — exploding for 27 facets, 20 of which got here in the 2nd half of. That items a brand unusual story most facets by any bench participant in WNBA postseason historical past, per ESPN.
Defensively, the Sun began with DiJonai Carrington on Clark, switched to Bonner in the 2nd quarter, after which to Mabrey in the third. Clark struggled in the postseason opener, finishing with honest correct 11 facets on 4-17 taking pictures.
Notably, Sun guard Ty Harris exited the game in the first quarter with an ankle sprain, and returned with crutches. Veronica Burton played elevated minutes off the bench in her absence, adding 8 facets in 19 minutes on 3-4 taking pictures.
Pregame, Sun head coach Stephanie White praised the Fever’s development since the final time the two groups met, noting that every person knew a turnaround used to be coming.
“The ingredient that’s made this Indiana team fun to glance for all people is that they play with so mighty joy, honest?” White stated. “Admire they’re younger. They revel in the game, they’ve fun collectively, and they don’t steal things too seriously.”
The Fever were led by Kelsey Mitchell (21 facets), Aliyah Boston (17 facets) and Domaris Dantas (12 facets). But, a team that’s change into known for their three-level taking pictures made honest correct 6 of 28 attempts.
Alyssa Thomas — the WNBA’s all-time triple-double chief — completed with one other, recording a 13 serve, 12 level, 10 rebound triple-double. It’s her fourth profession postseason triple-double. There had been simplest two others in WNBA historical past.
“I mediate AT is always underneath-appreciated,” White stated pregame. “I do know that the numbers were wonderful a twelve months ago, nonetheless I mediate her versatility, what she what she potential to a team, and whether or now now not it’s our team, whether or now now not it used to be the nationwide team, and she or he used to be save in for defensive reasons, facilitating — honest correct something that she’s asked to make. She doesn’t care concerning the triple doubles, she doesn’t care concerning the MVP vote casting, she doesn’t care about any of that stuff. She cares about winning.”
The ambiance on the enviornment used to be undeniably boisterous and perceived to desire whichever team had the upper hand on the time. Early on, the team — inundated with followers donning #22 Caitlin Clark jerseys — exploded at Fever baskets, though by the time the Sun constructed up a double-digit lead, the ambiance began to feel extra be pleased an everyday residence recreation, albeit peaceable with a gigantic alternative of Indiana and Iowa followers.
The Sun will all all over again host the Fever in the 2nd recreation of the finest-of-three first spherical on Wednesday, September twenty fifth on the Mohegan Sun Area. If they win that one, they’ll solution to semi-finals. A loss would ship them to Indianapolis for a make-or-die Recreation 3.
In a postgame walkoff interview, DeWanna Bonner addressed the team: “We need y’all.” Connecticut can hold the likelihood to wrap things up with one other win.