B/R
Caitlin Clark had one of the best, and certainly most impactful, rookie seasons in WNBA history. And yes, it can now be described in the past tense.
The Connecticut Sun ended the Indiana Fever’s season on Wednesday night, winning Game 2 of the first-round series between the teams, 87-81, and completing the sweep.
For the Sun, a matchup with either the Phoenix Mercury or Minnesota Lynx remains. For Clark and the Fever, a fantastic season has come to a close, though the future remains bright.
Phoenix Mercury at Minnesota Lynx (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 3: Minnesota at Phoenix (if needed)
Friday, Sept. 27 (TBD, ESPN2)
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces at New York Liberty
Clark did not go down without a fight, scoring a game-high 25 points to go along with nine assists and six rebounds.
The experience and depth of the Sun was too much to overcome, however, as all seven Connecticut players who appeared in the game scored eight or more points. Alyssa Thompson was fantastic, posting a 19-point, 13-assist double-double.
The charity stripe played a huge role in the contest as well, as the Sun hit 22 of their 23 free-throw attempts. The Fever were just 7-of-9 from the free-throw line.
The Fever raced out to an early 13-4 lead in the first quarter. But the Sun responded with a 13-1 lead to end the quarter and appeared to take control from there, leading by as many as 11 points early in the fourth quarter.
But the Fever fought back, pulling ahead on a Clark three-pointer with exactly four minutes remaining, and the two teams traded haymakers from there, setting up the fantastic finish.
The dagger came with about 46 seconds remaining, as a Marina Mabrey three put the Sun up by four. Kelsey Mitchell missed a three of her own on Indiana’s next possession, the Sun made all six free-throw attempts down the stretch, and Clark’s season came to a close.
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.
It was a brilliant ride, and nothing but bigger things are expected. But the WNBA is a different beast, and the Fever aren’t among the league’s elite just yet.
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