In a thrilling matchup, the Connecticut Sun dominated the Indiana Fever 93-69 in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series. Star player Alyssa Thomas led the charge with a impressive triple-double, consisting of 12 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds. This marks her 15th triple-double in the WNBA, a record that continues to grow.
The Sun’s top-ranked defense stifled the Fever’s offense, holding Caitlin Clark to just 11 points on 4-for-17 shooting. Clark, who finished fourth in MVP voting, struggled to find her rhythm against the Sun’s defense, particularly against DeWanna Bonner, who scored 22 points and made five assists.
Bonner’s length and versatility proved to be a game-changer, disrupting the Fever’s offense and allowing the Sun to take control. “It was about having length, it was about giving us versatility in our pick-and-roll situations, giving a different look,” said Sun coach Stephanie White.
Despite Clark’s struggles, she showed flashes of brilliance, scoring eight points in the third quarter and helping the Fever get within six points. However, the Sun pulled away in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Fever 25-12 to seal the win.
Marina Mabrey, a midseason trade acquisition, played a crucial role in the Sun’s victory, scoring 27 points off the bench, including 20 in the second half. Her performance set a new WNBA postseason record for most points scored by a reserve.
The Sun’s dominance was evident in their 50-36 advantage in paint scoring and 18-9 edge in fast-break points. They also held the Fever to a 40.3% shooting percentage and just 6 of 28 from three-point range.
With the win, the Sun take a 1-0 lead in the series, which continues on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET. If the Fever can force a Game 3, it would take place on Friday in Indianapolis.
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