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WNBA Playoffs: Katelyn Clarke updates, highlights, analysis as Fever faces Sun in Game 2

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WNBA Playoffs: Katelyn Clarke updates, highlights, analysis as Fever faces Sun in Game 2

The Indiana Fever’s first playoff game since 2016 didn’t go exactly as planned.

Caitlin Clark and the rest of her team struggled with shooting Sunday and were defeated by a veteran Connecticut Sun team in Game 1 of the best-of-three first-round series.

Going to Indiana in Game 2 on Wednesday knows it won’t be easy, and recognizes the enormous advantage Connecticut has in postseason experience.

From Cassandra Negley of Yahoo Sports:

Four of the five Fever starters have less than three years of any WNBA experience. They all had deep March Madness runs in college, but came into the first-round series with zero combined games of WNBA playoff experience. That includes seven-year veteran guard Kelsey Mitchell.

Caitlin Clark said the intensity, pressure and win-or-go-home situation Tuesday is similar to college, but even more different as a rookie at the pro level.

“It’s been a learning process for me, too,” Clark said. “Obviously, this is my first playoff. It’s a lot of us in this team’s first playoff. We’re all going through the same phase and learning. You never know what to expect because a lot of us haven’t been here.

UNCASVILLE, CT - September 22: Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) drives to the basket against Connecticut Sun forward Dewanna Bonner (24) and Connecticut Sun forward Briona Jones (42) during the first round and Game 1 of the 2024 WNBA playoffs. Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun on September 22, 2024 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. (Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Getty Images via ICON Sportswire)

The Suns beat Caitlin Clark and the Fever 93-69 in Game 1 of the series on Sunday. (M. Anthony Nesmith/ICON Sportswire/Getty Images)

The Fever have a chance to survive Wednesday night and extend Clark’s magical freshman season. But they need to shoot better, impose their will on change and meet the intensity of the sun.

live22 updates

  • 2Q 2:21 | Sun 33, Fever 26

    I hope you are not here for crime. The Sun is now winning the battle of styles and making it look ugly. Each team shoots 30% overall, 20% from 3. Clark leads all scorers with 10 points.

    In good news for the Fever, their 11 fast break points are already more than in Game 1 (nine). After folding in the first meeting they are connected to the paint points.

  • Christy Sides said yesterday that the fever should first deal with the body of the Sun and that didn’t happen…a confusing initial misproblem in the cycles and chemistry of the fever. Fever scores back-to-back buckets, Boston back on the floor. The Suns lead, 26-20, at 5:52 of the second quarter.

  • 1K: Sun 17, Fever 14

    Neither team shot the ball well (both 5-20). Connecticut’s defense is getting the job done early; The Fever haven’t made a bucket since Clark hit his second 3 in the 4-minute mark.

  • Indy challenged the foul call on Mitchell. For the second straight game (both in the first quarter), the refs called a foul on the wrong player. Lexi Hull was charged with a foul and Devanna Bonner made a double to give the Suns a 15-14 lead.

  • Not even out in the first quarter and Aaliyah Boston is in foul trouble with two. It’s going to hurt. Smith comes for her. Less than a minute later, Kelsey Mitchell is called a second time. At this point, the number of players who don’t talk about referees is very low.

  • Christy Sides Fever was in full conversation with the ref on the bench after DeJonai Carrington punched the ball away from Clark in the backfield. Clark came to chat. Then came Carrington.

  • 1Q 4:51 | Fever 10, Sun 4

    A great start to the flu. Clark has a quick three points, four rebounds and three assists. Aaliyah Boston had four rebounds on Bree Jones and Fakenle had three turnovers. Sun 1-11 to start from the field.

  • Some fireworks between DeWanna Bonner and Caitlin Clark early on. Clark was called for a foul on a deep 3-point attempt.

  • Caitlin Clark hit her first shot — a 3-pointer — at 9:33 of the first quarter.

  • Oh, right, Caitlin Clark starts it off with a 3. Classic Caitlin Unlocked?

  • Both sides spoke urgently. Indiana is playing to extend its season. The Suns don’t want to take this to Indianapolis for two reasons. First, the spot is swinging to a Game 3. If the Suns get it done tonight, they’ll have a few more days off before the semifinals begin on Sunday. If No. 2 Minnesota wins its series against Phoenix, Connecticut will advance.

  • Game 2 is set to begin at Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut. Two major sequence changes:

    Fever: Demi Fogbenle replaced Nalisa Smith. Smith played 8:53 in 1 game and did not score (one attempt). Fogbenle also didn’t score in 12:57 of action, but is one of the few Fever players with playoff experience and is a great running mate with Clark in transition. It was his third start of the season.

    Sun: Head coach Stephanie White said prior to the game that Ty Harris suffered a leg injury in Game 1 and would not be able to go. Marina Mabrey begins. It’s his fourth in Connecticut since the midseason trade.

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