Caitlin Clark and the Fever are seeking to avoid postseason elimination against the Sun on Wednesday as Connecticut enters the second game of the first round series up 1-0.
The rookie phenom was effectively shut down in the contest, scoring only 11 points — her lowest total since June 13 against Atlanta. Clark’s final regular season game saw her score just eight points, but she sat the majority of that game as a precaution.
For the Sun, Alyssa Thomas dominated on both ends of the floor, notching her fourth career postseason triple-double and 15th overall. She finished with 12 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds in the 93-69 win, bringing Connecticut within one victory of a second round appearance.
Kelsey Mitchell was a bright spot for Indiana in the loss, scoring 21 points, and Aliyah Boston pulled in a double-double of 17 points and 11 boards. However, while four players scored in double digits for both teams, Marina Mabrey’s 27 points and DeWanna Bonner’s 22 propelled the Sun to win its first postseason game for the third straight year.
Meanwhile, the Fever look to venture past the primary round for the first time since 2015. Clark & Co. will have to overcome the Sun in Connecticut, something the team hasn’t done in eight years. Here’s everything to know about the matchup, including Clark updates, results, highlights and live scores from the 2024 WNBA Playoff Game 2 matchup.
WATCH: Fever vs. Sun WNBA playoff matchup live on Fubo (free trial)
Fever vs. Sun score
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
Fever | 14 | 20 | |||
Sun | 17 | 24 |
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Caitlin Clark stats
- Points:
- Rebounds:
- Assists:
- Steals:
- Blocks:
- Turnovers:
- FGs:
- 3Ps:
MORE: 3 things Fever coach Christie Sides must do in Game 2 vs. Sun
Fever vs. Sun live results, updates, highlights
(All times Eastern)
Halftime: Sun 41, Fever 34
8:30 p.m. — Clark hits her 13th and 14th points on free throws after Jones fouls her. Mabrey and Bonner miss shots at the other end and Wheeler grabs possession and passes it to Clark. Clark gets it back to Wheeler who misses the buzzer-beating layup but runs into a cameraman and does not get up. Training staff arrive quickly and she walks off the court under her own power, down seven at the half.
8:28 p.m. — Quickly after Boston’s finish, Mabrey hits another jumper before Clark hits one of her own. They now have nine and 12 points respectively. Jones makes a layup for the Sun followed by a jumper by Burton who passed right by Clark on her way. It’s 41-32 Sun with 40 seconds to go.
8:27 p.m. — Wheeler opens after the break with two made free throws as a result of a foul by Mabrey before the timeout. Jones hits a field goal at the other end, then Boston returns the favor with a layup of her own.
8:22 p.m. — Wheeler finds Boston at the other end and she finishes it with a jumper over Burton. Mabrey then returns the favor with her own jumper to keep the margin at six. The Fever take a full timeout with just over two minutes remaining.
Mabrey effortlessly sinking another bucket 😮💨#BringTheHeat pic.twitter.com/MsqRHke2bQ
— Connecticut Sun (@ConnecticutSun) September 26, 2024
8:20 p.m. — Mitchell spins and hits a layup to narrow the deficit to five. Wheeler and Jones get tied up after a Mabrey missed three and jump ball is called. Burton gains possession then Wheeler fouls Bonner, who hits both free throws to keep the Sun up 31-26 with 2:41 to go in the half.
she quick.
Kelsey Mitchell spins and scores. pic.twitter.com/PI9IhoFTAI
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) September 26, 2024
8:17 p.m. — Bonner fouls Boston, and she hits two free throws for the Fever. Then Clark fouls Burton on a drive, and she only hits her second free throw, the Sun lead now at seven.
8:14 p.m. — Following a Sun timeout, Connecticut runs out the shot clock and Clark misses a three on the other end. Thomas gets the first points out of the break with a layup and extends the lead to eight. The Sun are up 28-20 with five minutes to go.
8:10 p.m. — Boston travels, but the Fever regain possession and Clark makes a driving layup featuring some fancy handles. Burton misses at the other end and Boston grabs the rebound before getting it to Clark, who then passes it back to Boston for her own layup. Indiana cuts the deficit to six.
tough 👏
Caitlin Clark gets the bucket. pic.twitter.com/MUi8AjOvD0
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) September 26, 2024
8:07 p.m. — Clark hits a field goal for Indiana and Burton scores again on a layup for Connecticut. Wheeler and Clark both earn fouls, keeping possession with the Sun until Carrington scores on a layup. It’s now 26-16 Sun with 7:05 in the half.
thats BACK TO BACK buckets for VERONICA! #BringTheHeat pic.twitter.com/tyeeVLV6tD
— Connecticut Sun (@ConnecticutSun) September 26, 2024
8:05 p.m. — Nelson-Ododa comes up with a big block to start the quarter on a layup by Mitchell, then Mabrey hits a layup at the other end to extend the Sun’s lead. It takes another minute for another basket to fall, this time coming from Burton with a 3-point jumper.
WHAT A PASS 👀
DiJonai Carrington slips it through the lane to find Veronica Burton for three!#WNBAPlayoffs presented by @google pic.twitter.com/DBjN5Yr8hN
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 26, 2024
End of first quarter: Sun 17, Fever 14
8 p.m. — Fagbenle fouls Nelson-Ododa, who makes two more free throws before time expires to extend the Sun’s lead to seven. Indiana was outscored 13 to two in the last three-and-a-half minutes of play after a hot start.
7:57 p.m. — The foul is corrected and will be called on Hull and not Mitchell. Bonner then goes to the line and hits two free throws to give Connecticut its first lead of the game, 15-14 with 30 seconds in the first.
7:52 p.m. — Mabrey narrows the lead to one with a pinpoint three on the assist from Thomas. Then, Mitchell draws a foul and there’s a break in play. The referees seem to be calling on security to remove an individual from the court side seats, which they do, and then Indiana challenges the foul call.
A fan in the front row was just escorted out of the arena after Caitlin Clark alerted an official of something he did/said. #Fever
— Dominic Miranda (@DomMirandaTV) September 25, 2024
7:50 p.m. — Hull is fouled attempting a layup and hits both free throws before Thomas turns right around and makes a layup of her own on the assist from Mabrey, appealing for the foul. She doesn’t get it, but hits another shot for the Sun shortly after. It’s 14-10 Indiana with 1:59 to go.
BACK TO BACK BUCKETS FOR AT#BringTheHeat pic.twitter.com/PiMe9r18yc
— Connecticut Sun (@ConnecticutSun) September 25, 2024
7:47 p.m. — And another three falls for Clark! She pulls up from 26 feet and gives Indiana a 9-point lead before Nelson-Ododa, who replaced Jones for Connecticut, puts up a layup to slim the margin.
anotha one.
🗣 Caitlin Clark. pic.twitter.com/1nTCohlmlF
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) September 25, 2024
7:42 p.m. — Mitchell ends a 2-minute scoring drought with a triple of her own, and Carrington follows that up with a layup. Hull returns the favor with a layup on the other end, both of the Fever’s last points assisted by Clark. It’s 10-4 Indiana with 4:51 in the first.
let’s go miss MIP #BringTheHeat pic.twitter.com/7zCRpqOgxN
— Connecticut Sun (@ConnecticutSun) September 25, 2024
7:40 p.m. — Both teams trade misses before Clark attempts another three. Bonner was guarding her and knocked the guard off her feet after the shot, but no whistle went off. Clark was visibly upset and got into it a little with Bonner before play resumed.
Caitlin Clark and DeWanna Bonner getting into it early in Game 2 of Fever-Sun 👀pic.twitter.com/4ZpFPUhlrQ
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 25, 2024
7:37 p.m. — Clark continues her early success, passing the ball to a wide open Mitchell who hits a field goal. Fagbenle fouls Jones on the next play and she makes both free throws for the Sun’s first points. It’s 5-2 Indiana with 8:14 in the first.
7:35 p.m. — Boston squares up with Jones in the circle and we’re off! Jones wins the tip for Connecticut and Mabrey starts things off with a missed jump shot. The next possession, Clark pulls up for a wide open three and nails it to open scoring, the Fever up early.
Caitlin Clark gets us rollin’ with a deep triple 🎯 pic.twitter.com/tQGUpGb7ke
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) September 25, 2024
Pregame
7:25 p.m. — Five minutes to tip! Tune in on ESPN and follow along here for updates.
Here comes the Sun ☀️
Connecticut is just one win away from another Semi-Finals appearance… the only thing that stands in their way is the Indiana Fever
Tune in to ESPN as Indiana looks to force a Game 3 at 7:30pm/ET as part of the #WNBAPlayoffs presented by @google pic.twitter.com/tRQiuIcxZy
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 25, 2024
7:20 p.m. — Looking for something to fill the 10 minutes until gametime? Here’s some of the Sporting News’ WNBA coverage from this week.
7:15 p.m. — Notably, Connecticut’s Carrington received the title of 2024 WNBA Most Improved Player this morning. In just one year, the guard increased her average points per game by over four points and also collected more boards, steals and assists.
7:10 p.m. — Both teams have announced their starting lineups for tonight. Sides has made one change for Indiana from Game 1, replacing Smith with Fagbenle. Otherwise, Clark, Boston, Mitchell and Hill remain in the first five.
first 5 of Game 2. pic.twitter.com/xJbBvL3qMA
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) September 25, 2024
For Connecticut, Mabrey earns the start after a 27-point performance in Game 1, replacing Harris. The other four remain unchanged, with Bonner, Thomas, Jones and Carrington set to take the court.
Tonight’s 5️⃣ #BringTheHeat // @PostUniversity pic.twitter.com/NDNh47qbEj
— Connecticut Sun (@ConnecticutSun) September 25, 2024
7 p.m. — With 30 minutes to tip for Game 2 of the first round series between Connecticut and Indiana, both teams have arrived at Mohegan Sun Arena and begun warmups. Clark and the Fever look to bring the series back home to force a deciding Game 3, but they’ll have to overcome a Sun team that’s favored by 6.5 points by BetMGM.
Both squads have entered the building 🔥 The @connecticutsun are lookin’ to close it out, while the @indianafever arrives ready to force Game 3
Who’s takin’ it tonight? Find out on ESPN at 7:30pm/ET 📺 pic.twitter.com/dkR6NZ09cT
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 25, 2024
MORE: Inside the budding rivalry between Caitlin Clark and DiJonai Carrington
Fever vs. Sun start time
- Date: Wednesday, Sept. 25
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
The Fever and Sun will clash at Mohegan Sun Arena in Montville, Connecticut on Wednesday, Sept. 25 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
MORE: WNBA couple faces off in Sun-Fever first round playoff series
How to watch Fever vs. Sun
- TV channel: ESPN (U.S.) | TSN5 (Canada)
- Live stream: ESPN app, Fubo
Fever-Sun will be aired nationally on ESPN in the U.S. Canadian viewers can follow all the action on TSN5.
Cord-cutters can find the action on the ESPN app or Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.