Alyssa Thomas helps the Connecticut Sun eliminate Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever from playoffs
UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) Alyssa Thomas and the Connecticut Sun were happy to finally close out an opening round series at home in two games.
Thomas had 19 points and 13 assists to help the Sun sweep rookie sensation Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever out of the playoffs with an 87-81 win Wednesday night.
Since the league changed its playoff format in 2022, the Sun have needed to win a decisive third game on the road in the first round to advance, which they did both years. This time, they were able to do it at home.
“Finally locked in and took advantage of homecourt advantage,” said Thomas, who had a triple-double in the Game 1 win. “We’re ready. Tested tonight and it wasn’t pretty, but that’s the nature of playoffs. We pulled out a gutsy win. We’re hungry and ready. ... We're ready for what the playoff journey is going to unfold.”
The third-seeded Sun will now face Minnesota in the semifinals, which begin Sunday.
Clark played much better in Game 2 than she did in her postseason debut Sunday. The AP Rookie of the Year finished with 25 points and nine assists, but it wasn't enough.
“Obviously it’s a tough one, especially as we climbed all the way back in and just to have our opportunities late,” Clark said.
Aliyah Boston added 16 points and 19 rebounds. Her layup with 2:05 left gave Indiana a 77-75 advantage but DeWanna Bonner, who was playing in her WNBA record matching 82nd playoff game to match Lindsay Whalen, answered with a 3-pointer 14 seconds later.
Neither team scored on their next few possessions until Marina Mabrey hit a 3-pointer from the wing with 45.5 seconds left to give the Sun an 81-77 lead.
Kelsey Mitchell missed a 3 on the Fever's next possession and the Sun sealed the game from the foul line.
Trailing by seven at the half, the Fever scored the first seven points of the third quarter to tie the game. The teams traded baskets until Lexie Hull’s layup gave the Fever a 48-47 lead midway through the period.
It was short-lived as Thomas took over, scoring 10 points during a 14-4 run to close the quarter.
Clark brought the Fever back with her 3-pointer, giving the team a 71-70 lead with 3:59 left and the teams traded baskets until Bonner’s 3.
Indiana got off to a fast start and was up 14-6 before the Sun scored the final 11 points of the first quarter to go up by three. With 1:29 left in the quarter after a foul, Clark pointed out a fan sitting in the second row to an official, who called security over and had the man escorted to the back. The fan later returned and there were no further incidents.
The run continued to start the second as Connecticut went up 26-16 on Carrington’s layup with 7:32 left in the half. The Sun led 41-34 at intermission. Carrington was honored before the game as the league’s Most Improved Player.
On the last play of the half, Erica Wheeler went in for a layup trying to beat the buzzer and went flying into the courtside photographers. She was down for a few minutes before getting up and walking back to the locker room. She had her left thumb looked at and didn’t return in the second half.
Clark finished the half with 14 points, four rebounds and four assists.
The Sun were missing starting guard Tyasha Harris, who injured her ankle in Sunday’s win. Mabrey started in her place.
---
AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball
Copyright 2024 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
10:00 | Start of the 1st Quarter | |||
10:00 | Jump Ball: Brionna Jones vs. Aliyah Boston. | |||
9:40 | Marina Mabrey misses a jump shot from 14 feet out. | |||
9:40 | Aliyah Boston with a defensive rebound. | |||
9:32 | +3 | Caitlin Clark makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | 3-0 | |
9:15 | DeWanna Bonner misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
9:15 | Caitlin Clark with a defensive rebound. | |||
9:04 | Aliyah Boston misses a layup. | |||
9:04 | Temi Fagbenle with an offensive rebound. | |||
8:50 | Temi Fagbenle misses a jump shot from 19 feet out. | |||
8:50 | Aliyah Boston with an offensive rebound. | |||
8:46 | Aliyah Boston misses a layup. | |||
8:46 | DeWanna Bonner with a defensive rebound. | |||
8:36 | Brionna Jones misses a jump shot from 22 feet out. | |||
8:36 | Caitlin Clark with a defensive rebound. | |||
8:29 | +2 | Kelsey Mitchell makes a layup. Caitlin Clark with the assist. | 5-0 | |
8:14 | Shooting foul committed by Temi Fagbenle. | |||
8:14 | +1 | Brionna Jones makes free throw 1 of 2. | 5-1 | |
8:14 | +1 | Brionna Jones makes free throw 2 of 2. | 5-2 | |
7:51 | Caitlin Clark misses a 3-point jump shot from 33 feet out. | |||
7:51 | Temi Fagbenle with an offensive rebound. | |||
7:49 | Fever with a turnover: Shot Clock Turnover | |||
7:37 | DiJonai Carrington misses a layup. | |||
7:37 | Aliyah Boston with a defensive rebound. | |||
7:20 | Lexie Hull misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | |||
7:20 | DiJonai Carrington with a defensive rebound. | |||
7:04 | Marina Mabrey misses a jump shot from 10 feet out. | |||
7:04 | Caitlin Clark with a defensive rebound. | |||
6:58 | Kelsey Mitchell misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
6:58 | Sun with a defensive rebound. | |||
6:40 | DiJonai Carrington misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
6:40 | Aliyah Boston with a defensive rebound. | |||
6:24 | Lexie Hull misses a jump shot from 8 feet out. | |||
6:24 | DeWanna Bonner with a defensive rebound. | |||
6:10 | Marina Mabrey misses a 3-point jump shot from 23 feet out. | |||
6:10 | Caitlin Clark with a defensive rebound. | |||
6:03 | +3 | Kelsey Mitchell makes a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. Caitlin Clark with the assist. | 8-2 | |
5:42 | +2 | DiJonai Carrington makes a layup. Alyssa Thomas with the assist. | 8-4 | |
5:36 | +2 | Lexie Hull makes a layup. Caitlin Clark with the assist. | 10-4 | |
5:19 | Personal foul committed by Aliyah Boston. | |||
5:09 | Aliyah Boston blocks a Brionna Jones layup. | |||
5:09 | Alyssa Thomas with an offensive rebound. | |||
5:08 | Alyssa Thomas misses a layup. | |||
5:08 | DiJonai Carrington with an offensive rebound. | |||
5:00 | Alyssa Thomas misses a hook shot from 9 feet out. | |||
5:00 | Temi Fagbenle with a defensive rebound. | |||
4:52 | Caitlin Clark misses a jump shot from 24 feet out. | |||
4:52 | Sun with a defensive rebound. | |||
4:51 | Official's timeout. | |||
4:41 | Offensive foul committed by DiJonai Carrington. | |||
4:41 | DiJonai Carrington with a turnover | |||
4:22 | Substitution: Olivia Nelson-Ododa in for Brionna Jones. | |||
4:16 | Alyssa Thomas steals the ball from Kelsey Mitchell. | |||
4:09 | DeWanna Bonner misses a jump shot from 18 feet out. | |||
4:09 | Temi Fagbenle with a defensive rebound. | |||
3:59 | +3 | Caitlin Clark makes a 3-point jump shot from 31 feet out. | 13-4 | |
3:51 | Personal foul committed by Kelsey Mitchell. | |||
3:38 | DiJonai Carrington misses a layup. | |||
3:38 | Olivia Nelson-Ododa with an offensive rebound. | |||
3:34 | +2 | Olivia Nelson-Ododa makes a layup. | 13-6 | |
3:25 | DiJonai Carrington steals the ball from Caitlin Clark. | |||
3:22 | Lexie Hull steals the ball from DiJonai Carrington. | |||
3:20 | Shooting foul committed by Marina Mabrey. | |||
3:20 | Lexie Hull misses free throw 1 of 2. | |||
3:20 | Fever with an offensive rebound. | |||
3:20 | +1 | Lexie Hull makes free throw 2 of 2. | 14-6 | |
3:05 | +2 | Alyssa Thomas makes a layup. Marina Mabrey with the assist. | 14-8 | |
2:54 | Aliyah Boston misses a layup. | |||
2:54 | Aliyah Boston with an offensive rebound. | |||
2:47 | Olivia Nelson-Ododa blocks a Aliyah Boston layup. | |||
2:47 | Kelsey Mitchell with an offensive rebound. | |||
2:44 | Lexie Hull misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
2:44 | Alyssa Thomas with a defensive rebound. | |||
2:37 | +2 | Alyssa Thomas makes a layup. | 14-10 | |
2:15 | Caitlin Clark misses a 3-point jump shot from 29 feet out. | |||
2:15 | Olivia Nelson-Ododa with a defensive rebound. | |||
2:00 | Alyssa Thomas misses a jump shot from 18 feet out. | |||
2:00 | Sun with an offensive rebound. | |||
1:59 | Personal foul committed by Aliyah Boston. | |||
1:59 | Substitution: Veronica Burton in for DiJonai Carrington. | |||
1:59 | Substitution: NaLyssa Smith in for Aliyah Boston. | |||
1:45 | +3 | Marina Mabrey makes a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. Alyssa Thomas with the assist. | 14-13 | |
1:33 | Caitlin Clark misses a layup. | |||
1:33 | Veronica Burton with a defensive rebound. | |||
1:29 | Shooting foul committed by Lexie Hull. | |||
1:29 | Fever take a full timeout. | |||
1:29 | +1 | DeWanna Bonner makes free throw 1 of 2. | 14-14 | |
1:29 | +1 | DeWanna Bonner makes free throw 2 of 2. | 14-15 | |
1:12 | DeWanna Bonner steals the ball from Kelsey Mitchell. | |||
1:05 | Alyssa Thomas misses a layup. | |||
1:05 | Marina Mabrey with an offensive rebound. | |||
1:01 | Temi Fagbenle steals the ball from Marina Mabrey. | |||
39.6 | Temi Fagbenle misses a jump shot from 21 feet out. | |||
39.6 | Veronica Burton with a defensive rebound. | |||
30.8 | Personal foul committed by Temi Fagbenle. | |||
30.8 | +1 | Olivia Nelson-Ododa makes free throw 1 of 2. | 14-16 | |
30.8 | Substitution: Damiris Dantas in for Temi Fagbenle. | |||
30.8 | +1 | Olivia Nelson-Ododa makes free throw 2 of 2. | 14-17 | |
09.2 | Kelsey Mitchell misses a jump shot from 24 feet out. | |||
09.2 | DeWanna Bonner with a defensive rebound. | |||
0.2 | DeWanna Bonner misses a 3-point jump shot from 30 feet out. | |||
0.2 | NaLyssa Smith with a defensive rebound. | |||
0.0 | End of the 1st Quarter |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
10:00 | Start of the 2nd Quarter | |||
9:42 | Olivia Nelson-Ododa blocks a Kelsey Mitchell layup. | |||
9:42 | Alyssa Thomas with a defensive rebound. | |||
9:39 | +2 | Marina Mabrey makes a layup. Alyssa Thomas with the assist. | 14-19 | |
9:27 | Lexie Hull with a turnover - Bad Pass | |||
9:27 | Substitution: Erica Wheeler in for Lexie Hull. | |||
9:11 | Marina Mabrey misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
9:11 | NaLyssa Smith with a defensive rebound. | |||
9:04 | Kelsey Mitchell misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
9:04 | NaLyssa Smith with an offensive rebound. | |||
8:48 | Fever with a turnover: Shot Clock Turnover | |||
8:31 | +3 | Veronica Burton makes a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. DiJonai Carrington with the assist. | 14-22 | |
8:21 | +2 | Caitlin Clark makes a jump shot from 9 feet out. | 16-22 | |
8:11 | +2 | Veronica Burton makes a layup. Alyssa Thomas with the assist. | 16-24 | |
7:57 | Damiris Dantas misses a jump shot from 14 feet out. | |||
7:57 | DiJonai Carrington with a defensive rebound. | |||
7:54 | Personal foul committed by Erica Wheeler. | |||
7:54 | Substitution: Aliyah Boston in for NaLyssa Smith. | |||
7:42 | Marina Mabrey misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
7:42 | Marina Mabrey with an offensive rebound. | |||
7:41 | Personal foul committed by Caitlin Clark. | |||
7:32 | +2 | DiJonai Carrington makes a layup. Alyssa Thomas with the assist. | 16-26 | |
7:18 | Personal foul committed by DiJonai Carrington. | |||
7:12 | Caitlin Clark misses a 3-point jump shot from 29 feet out. | |||
7:12 | Aliyah Boston with an offensive rebound. | |||
7:05 | Aliyah Boston with a turnover - Traveling | |||
6:45 | Marina Mabrey misses a jump shot from 19 feet out. | |||
6:45 | Olivia Nelson-Ododa with an offensive rebound. | |||
6:41 | Olivia Nelson-Ododa misses a layup. | |||
6:41 | Aliyah Boston with a defensive rebound. | |||
6:34 | +2 | Caitlin Clark makes a layup. | 18-26 | |
6:15 | Veronica Burton misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
6:15 | Aliyah Boston with a defensive rebound. | |||
6:06 | +2 | Aliyah Boston makes a layup. Caitlin Clark with the assist. | 20-26 | |
5:53 | Alyssa Thomas misses a jump shot from 14 feet out. | |||
5:53 | Sun with an offensive rebound. | |||
5:52 | Personal foul committed by Damiris Dantas. | |||
5:52 | Sun take a full timeout. | |||
5:52 | Substitution: DeWanna Bonner in for Marina Mabrey. | |||
5:52 | Substitution: Temi Fagbenle in for Damiris Dantas. | |||
5:37 | Sun with a turnover: Shot Clock Turnover | |||
5:24 | Caitlin Clark misses a 3-point jump shot from 30 feet out. | |||
5:24 | Sun with a defensive rebound. | |||
5:11 | +2 | Alyssa Thomas makes a layup. DeWanna Bonner with the assist. | 20-28 | |
5:02 | Personal foul committed by Veronica Burton. | |||
5:02 | Substitution: Marina Mabrey in for DiJonai Carrington. | |||
4:52 | Aliyah Boston misses a jump shot from 18 feet out. | |||
4:52 | Temi Fagbenle with an offensive rebound. | |||
4:50 | Temi Fagbenle misses a layup. | |||
4:50 | Aliyah Boston with an offensive rebound. | |||
4:50 | Shooting foul committed by DeWanna Bonner. | |||
4:50 | +1 | Aliyah Boston makes free throw 1 of 2. | 21-28 | |
4:50 | +1 | Aliyah Boston makes free throw 2 of 2. | 22-28 | |
4:39 | DeWanna Bonner misses a layup. | |||
4:39 | Aliyah Boston with a defensive rebound. | |||
4:32 | Erica Wheeler with a turnover - Bad Pass | |||
4:24 | Shooting foul committed by Caitlin Clark. | |||
4:24 | Veronica Burton misses free throw 1 of 2. | |||
4:24 | Sun with an offensive rebound. | |||
4:24 | +1 | Veronica Burton makes free throw 2 of 2. | 22-29 | |
4:00 | +2 | Kelsey Mitchell makes a layup. | 24-29 | |
3:44 | Substitution: Brionna Jones in for Olivia Nelson-Ododa. | |||
3:41 | Brionna Jones misses a jump shot from 19 feet out. | |||
3:41 | Aliyah Boston with a defensive rebound. | |||
3:28 | Caitlin Clark misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
3:28 | DeWanna Bonner with a defensive rebound. | |||
3:17 | Marina Mabrey misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | |||
3:17 |