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Caitlin Clark and Fever in danger of elimination in Game 2

Vaseline September 25, 2024

Stephanie White had a warning for everyone after Game 1 of the Connecticut-Indiana WNBA playoff series.

Alyssa Thomas is not normal, White said. And everyone needs to remember that.

“It’s crazy, right?” said White, the Suns coach. She laughed. “We almost take it for granted. I hope we remind ourselves not to. It’s not normal, guys, just like it’s not normal to have that many triple-doubles.”

White’s comments were, of course, in reference to Thomas’ fourth postseason triple-double, which the 11-year veteran recorded Sunday in Connecticut’s 93-69 Game 1 victory. Thomas finished with 12 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds just hours after learning she finished fifth in the 2024 MVP voting (or is that M’VP voting?). The player standing right in front of her? Indiana star Caitlin Clark.

So, can Thomas do it again for Game 2 on Wednesday? That might be asking a bit much. Thomas will surely be more focused on the fact that Connecticut, despite being a higher seed, has lost Game 2 of its first series the last two seasons. The Sun will be determined not to do that this year. If the Fever force a decisive Game 3, it will be in Indianapolis, which has filled the house more than any other city this season.

Could Clark, who made just 4 of 17 shots in Game 1 but had plenty of good chances (her words), put up her own triple-double? The rookie sensation is the only first-year player in league history to record a triple-double, and she did it twice during the regular season.

In an elimination match with so many stars, anything seems possible.

Follow the news, highlights and key moments from Game 2:

The Fever rookie hit a 3-pointer to open the scoring and followed it up with a nice pass to Kelsey Mitchell for a layup.

Indiana Fever at Connecticut Sun

The Fever meet the Sun in Uncasville at Mohegan Sun Arena for Game 2 of their best-of-three series Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Sun lead the series 1-0 and can advance to the semifinals with a win. A win for the Fever would force a deciding Game 3 in Indianapolis on Friday.

How to watch Fever on Sun

The match will be broadcast on ESPN.

How to Stream Fever on Sun

The game can be streamed on Fubo. In addition to local TV markets, the Fever-Sun game will also be available on-demand after the game on WNBA League Pass. Fans can get the WNBA League Pass by downloading the WNBA app.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Indiana Fever changes its lineup to a win-or-go home situation.

With Connecticut leading 1-0 in the best-of-three first round of the playoffs, the Fever have opted to start Temi Fagbenle in place of NaLyssa Smith for Game 2 on Wednesday night. Smith has no known injuries; she practiced as normal at the Fever’s shootaround on Wednesday morning and warmed up as usual before tipoff.

Smith’s minutes have steadily declined in the second half of the season, despite maintaining her spot in the starting lineup. She’s played about 20 minutes per game over the last 10 games of the season, while other starters have averaged 30+ minutes per game. In Game 1, Smith, the No. 2 overall pick in 2022, played just nine minutes, going 0-of-1 from the field with one rebound. — Chloe Peterson, Indianapolis star

Sun starting lineup for Game 2

Indiana Fever vs. Connecticut Sun Postseason Schedule

Sunday, match 1: Connecticut 93, Indiana 69
Wednesday, match 2: Indiana vs. Connecticut (7:30 p.m., ESPN)
Friday, match 3*: Connecticut vs. Indiana (tbc, ESPN2)

(* – If necessary; all times Eastern)

WNBA Postseason Schedule

First round

Sunday September 22:

Game 1: New York 83, Atlanta 69
Game 1: Connecticut 93, Indiana 69
Game 1: Minnesota 102, Phoenix 95
Game 1: Las Vegas 78, Seattle 67

Tuesday September 24:

Game 2: New York 91, Atlanta 82, Liberty wins series 2-0
Game 2: Las Vegas 83, Seattle 76, Aces win series 2-0

Wednesday September 25

Game 2: Indiana vs. Connecticut (7:30 p.m., ESPN)
Game 2: Phoenix at Minnesota (9:30 p.m., ESPN)

Friday September 27

Game 3*: Connecticut at Indiana (tbc, ESPN 2)
Game 3*: Minnesota at Phoenix (tbc, ESPN 2)

Semi-finals

Las Vegas Aces vs. New York Liberty

Match 1, September 29: Las Vegas vs. New York (tbc)
Match 2, October 1: Las Vegas vs. New York (tbc)
Game 3, October 4: New York in Las Vegas (TBD)
Game 4*, Oct. 6: New York in Las Vegas (tbc)
Game 5*, Oct. 8: Las Vegas near New York (to be determined)

(* – If necessary; all times Eastern)

Indiana Fever vs. Connecticut Sun: USA TODAY Reporters’ Picks

Nancy Pantser: Sun over Fever in 2

Scooby Axson: Sun over Fever in 2

Ellen J. Horrow:Sun over Fever in 3

Jordan Mendoza:Sun over Fever in 3

Lindsay Schnell:Sun over Fever in 2

Read more forecasts and analyseshere.

As the WNBA continues to hand out superlatives, Sun guard DiJonai Carrington won the Most Improved Player award before Game 2 on Wednesday. Carrington was selected by the Sun in the second round of the 2021 WNBA draft after finishing her senior year at Baylor. She has seen her averages in points, rebounds, steals and assists per game rise while also being a mainstay defensively. Carrington received 28 of the 67 first-place votes. Los Angeles Sparks forward Dearica Hamby came in second (18 votes) and Minnesota Lynx forward Bridget Carleton came in third (15).

UNCASVILLE, Conn. — As goes Caitlin Clark, so goes the Indiana Fever. That was the case during a remarkable regular season filled with rookie joy, uplifting performances and unexpected triumphs.

That was true on Sunday afternoon, when the harsh reality of the WNBA postseason hit hard for a Fever starting five that had never made a second playoff appearance before taking the court for Game 1 against the formidable and experienced Connecticut Sun. Read Christine Brennan’s full column here.

Caitlin Clark rewrites WNBA record books. Again. And again.

The Fever rookie made headlines all summer with her standout play. Revisit her performance in this chart.

How Caitlin Clark Helped Change Lexie Hull’s Game

Like most WNBA fans, Lexie Hull reads a lot of content about Caitlin Clark.

Every time Clark breaks a record, says something interesting or, for example, sneezes, Hull is notified.

But when Hull, Clark and Katie Lou Samuelson traveled to Mexico with their boyfriends (in Samuelson’s case, their husbands) for a much-needed beach vacation during the WNBA’s Olympic break, Hull learned something new about Clark.

The No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft and the heavy favorite to win Rookie of the Year is… funny.

Even a joker.

“She likes to cause a little trouble, that’s for sure. If you need a laugh, she’ll get it for you,” Hull told USA TODAY Sports.

Read the whole storyhere.

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