Indiana had the best backcourt in the WNBA since play resumed after the Olympics, but the Sun stifled Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell.
The Connecticut Sun looked like the experienced, veteran team they are, and the Indiana Fever offense struggled against the team with the top defensive rating in the WNBA. The result was a 93-69 Connecticut blowout victory Sunday in the Fever’s first playoff game since 2016.
In contrast, the Sun are making their eighth consecutive playoff appearance, and advanced to the WNBA Finals in 2019 and 2022. Forward Alyssa Thomas has been with the Sun that entire stretch, and Sunday had her fourth career playoff triple-double.
The Sun shut down Indiana guards Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell, who both averaged 19.2 points during the regular season. Connecticut put veteran DeWanna Bonner on Clark — a matchup the Sun didn’t use in their four regular-season games against the Fever — and it set the tone for the game.
Clark went 1 of 9 from the field in the first half, including 0 of 7 against the 6-foot-4 Bonner as the primary defender. The Fever trailed 46-38 at halftime, and things just got worse in the second half.
How did the Sun dominate the Fever, and what does it mean for their best of three series?
Charlie Creme: Bonner’s length bothers most offensive players she faces, and it seemed to impact Clark. It was a good coaching decision by Stephanie White, and there’s no question Bonner was good defensively Sunday.
But I’m not ready to declare her the magic potion for the Sun against Clark. Clark didn’t shoot the ball well against anyone Connecticut threw at her (six defenders in all in the first half) despite having good looks, even against Bonner. Clark finished 4-of-17 from the field for the game, and two of those field goals — a 3-pointer and a layup — early in the second half came with Bonner guarding her.
Connecticut’s strategy of using multiple defenders and different looks is really what impacted Clark’s tough shooting performance. No doubt White will employ something similar in Game 2 (7:30 p.m. ET Wednesday, ESPN).
Michael Voepel: This is what Bonner does: uses her length, experience and savvy.
