Caitlin Clark, Fever Out of WNBA Playoffs with Loss to Sun as Fans Salute Rookie Year

Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

A valiant comeback effort from Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever fell just short as the Connecticut Sun earned the two-game first-round playoff sweep with an 87-81 home win on Wednesday evening.

Clark finished with 25 points, nine assists and six rebounds, while teammate Aliyah Boston had a 16-point, 19-rebound effort.

StatMamba @StatMamba

Caitlin Clark tonight:
25 PTS
6 REB
9 AST
The last rookie in NBA/WNBA playoff history to reach these numbers was Magic Johnson (1980). pic.twitter.com/UHzHRDbZYz

But the Sun’s balanced scoring attack proved too tough. All seven Sun players scored eight or more points, led by Alyssa Thomas’ 19-point, 13-rebound evening.

Connecticut led 63-52 early in the fourth quarter, but Indiana chipped away and eventually responded with a 12-3 run capped by a Boston layup to go up 75-73 with 2:41 left. That run also included this off-balance Clark three following an initial double team.

Sun forward DeWanna Bonner made a layup in response before Boston added another two-point bucket.

But Connecticut then went on a 12-2 run. Bonner made a three to put the Sun up for good after Boston’s bucket, and Marina Mabrey later hit a triple after Bonner stole a Kelsey Mitchell pass for a 81-77 edge.

The Sun iced the game with free throws.

And with that, Clark’s rookie season came to a close. The unanimous WNBA Rookie of the Year starred in her first professional campaign, averaging 19.2 points, 8.4 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals. She led the league in three-pointers made and assists as well. The Fever also broke a seven-year streak of losing records and missed playoffs, going 20-20 (overcoming a 3-10 start) and getting the sixth seed.

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport

Shoutout Caitlin Clark for an UNREAL rookie season 👏
⭐️ First rookie to record a triple-double
⭐️ WNBA record for mosts assists in a season
⭐️ Record for most threes made by a rookie
⭐️ Fastest player to 500 PTS & 200 AST
⭐️ Helped lead Fever to 1st playoff app. since 2016
And… pic.twitter.com/DR8h7YkG62

Joe Pompliano @JoePompliano

Caitlin Clark had an incredible year:
• Set NCAA scoring record
• 18M viewers for the national title game
• #1 overall WNBA draft pick
• Rookie of the Year & WNBA 1st team
• Set viewership & attendance records
• Signed a $28 million Nike deal
Literally changed the game 👏 pic.twitter.com/JcQNukKDyW

Bright days are ahead for Clark, Boston and the Fever. In the meantime, fans recognized Clark’s exploits as her season came to an end.

73-9 and THEY LIED @CuffsTheLegend

Thank you Caitlin Clark for giving us the best WNBA rookie season we’ve ever seen!
You’ve changed women’s basketball forever in just your first year in the league. It’s only gonna get better from here! ⭐️ 🐐 pic.twitter.com/THeSLy7tLf

Talking WNBA @TalkingWNBA

Aliyah Boston: 16 pts, 18 rebounds
Caitlin Clark: 25 pts, 9 asts, 6 refs
Fever lose the series 0-2.
The Future is bright in Indiana. pic.twitter.com/mopPK8xsz3

NBACentral @TheDunkCentral

Caitlin Clark tonight:
25 points
9 assists
6 rebounds
Amazing season from an amazing rookie 💪 See you next year 🫡 pic.twitter.com/s1XHhH3XoK

Jason Timpf @_JasonLT

Shout out to Caitlin Clark, man…
Basically 12 straight months of hoops, all with insane pressure and expectations and she just kept getting better the whole way. Hooped her ass off.

Hoop Central @TheHoopCentral

Caitlin Clark’s historic season comes to an end tonight.
Only going up from here. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/hnpPICVySz

Omar S. @OmarJS22

Caitlin Clark broke the wnba rookie records for scoring and assist. Lead the league in assist this year and 6th in scoring and got the worst team last season into the playoffs. So much for the overrated talk 🤷

Women’s Hoops Network @WomensHoops_USA

Caitlin Clark ends her historic rookie season with:
• 19.2 ppg (7th in WNBA)
• 5.7 rebounds per game
• 8.4 assists per game (1st in WNBA)
•Countless records broken
Congrats Caitlin 🎉🎉🎉 pic.twitter.com/kG5IuDi421

Rachel Nichols @Rachel__Nichols

Marina Mabrey is a stud. Hats off to the Sun, and what an incredible run for Caitlin Clark, who over the past six months set off a series of earthquakes that absolutely shook the sports world. The landscape is changing changing changing & it continues to be so much fun to watch.

Clark Report @CClarkReport

No rookie has ever come into the WNBA higher higher expectations
Caitlin Clark exceeded all of them
Thank you for giving us all a season we will never forget 🫡 pic.twitter.com/371Ee2gYhK

Matt Ellentuck @mellentuck

caitlin clark, thank you for a ridiculous year-long stretch of must-watch basketball
it’s been so freaking fun

Troy Banning @TroyBanning

Caitlin Clark may sleep for 6 months straight. And I wouldn’t blame her one bit if she did.
That’s an 11-month stretch of eyeballs, pressure and a whole lot of bull💩 that I cannot remember another athlete having to endure.

Russ’ TD ⚡ @RussFcb

Let’s all appreciate what Caitlin Clark accomplished as a rookie. This was the best rookie season in WNBA history https://t.co/WBz8ES5Llk

As for the Sun, Connecticut has now made six straight WNBA semifinal rounds and awaits the winner of the Minnesota Lynx vs. Phoenix Mercury series. The New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces will play in the other semifinal.

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