Sun Sweep Fever to Reach WNBA Semifinals
The Connecticut Sun secured their spot in the WNBA semifinals on Sunday with a commanding 93-69 victory over the Indiana Fever, completing a 2-0 series sweep. The Sun will now face the winner of the Chicago Sky vs. New York Liberty series as they continue their pursuit of a WNBA championship.
In Game 1 on Thursday, the Sun set the tone early, racing out to a 26-13 lead after the first quarter. Connecticut’s smothering defense held WNBA Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark to just 12 points on 3-14 shooting for the game. The Sun’s balanced attack was led by DeWanna Bonner with 20 points, while Alyssa Thomas stuffed the stat sheet with 18 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 steals in the 93-69 blowout win.
Game 2 on Sunday at Mohegan Sun Arena followed a similar script. The Sun’s defense once again made life difficult for Clark and the Fever offense. Clark managed 18 points but shot just 7-18 from the field. Meanwhile, Connecticut’s offense clicked on all cylinders.
Alyssa Thomas was magnificent, recording the first triple-double in WNBA playoff history with 17 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists. Bonner poured in a game-high 22 points, while Courtney Williams added 17 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. The Sun led by as many as 33 points before cruising to the 93-69 victory.
“We knew we had to come out aggressive and play our style of basketball,” said Thomas after her historic performance. “We did a great job of that on both ends of the floor. It feels good to get the sweep, but we know there’s a long road ahead.”
Fever Fall Short in Return to Playoffs
For the Indiana Fever, the 2024 WNBA Playoffs marked the end of a seven-year postseason drought. There was optimism entering the playoffs that the young Fever squad, led by WNBA Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark, could make some noise.
Indiana showed their potential at times during the regular season, including an impressive 84-80 win over the Sun on August 28. In that game, Kelsey Mitchell scored 23 points while Clark filled up the box score with 19 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. The Fever finished the season strong to secure the 8th and final playoff spot.
However, the intensity and pressure of the playoffs proved to be a learning experience for Clark and company. The Sun’s veteran lineup and stifling defense were too much for the inexperienced Fever to handle. After being held to 12 points in Game 1, Clark acknowledged the challenges of her first taste of WNBA postseason action.
“It was a tough series for us, but that’s part of the growing process,” said the rookie sensation. “A lot of us have never been here before. Connecticut is a great team with a lot of experience. We’ll learn from this and hopefully be better prepared next time we’re in this position.”
Veteran guard Kelsey Mitchell, who led the Fever with 19 points in Game 2, echoed Clark’s perspective. “We got a little taste of playoff basketball and saw how much harder we have to play,” said Mitchell. “It’s disappointing to lose, but we’ll regroup and come back stronger next season.”
Experience every thrilling moment as the Connecticut Sun dominate the Indiana Fever in a memorable WNBA playoff showdown. Watch the full game highlights and witness the intensity and skill that propelled the Sun to victory
Looking Ahead
For the Connecticut Sun, the focus now shifts to their semifinal matchup and the opportunity to take one step closer to a WNBA title. With a core featuring Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner, Courtney Williams and reigning Sixth Player of the Year Brionna Jones, the Sun have the talent and experience to make a deep postseason run.
Meanwhile, the Indiana Fever will look to build on the progress made in 2024. With budding stars like Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell leading the way, the future looks bright in Indiana despite the disappointing playoff exit. The key for the Fever will be using this experience as fuel to come back even stronger in 2025.
“We’ll remember how this feels,” said Clark. “It’s going to motivate us to work even harder this offseason. We got a small taste of the playoffs. Now we want more. I’m excited to see how much better we can be next year.”
The 2024 WNBA Playoffs roll on, but for the Indiana Fever, it’s wait until next year. The Connecticut Sun still have work to do in their quest for a championship, starting with the semifinal round. If they can maintain the level of play they showed in the first round, the Sun just might be the team to beat.
Fever Fans Show Support with Caitlin Clark Shirts
Despite the series loss, Fever fans remained excited about the team’s future prospects. Many showed their support for the rookie phenom by sporting Caitlin Clark “Freddy Fever” shirts at the games and around Indianapolis. The shirts feature a unique design playing off the “Freddy Krueger” horror movie character.
Clark’s instant stardom and the Fever’s return to relevance have reinvigorated the fanbase. The team will look to build off this momentum heading into next season. With Clark leading the way, Fever fever is likely to keep spreading.
