Alyssa Thomas delivered a stellar performance with 19 points and 13 assists, propelling the Connecticut Sun to an 87-81 victory over Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever, effectively sweeping the Fever out of the playoffs on Wednesday night.
With this win, the third-seeded Sun advanced to the semifinals, where they will face either the Minnesota Lynx or the Phoenix Mercury, beginning on Sunday.
Caitlin Clark, the AP Rookie of the Year, showcased significant improvement in her second postseason game, finishing with 25 points and nine assists. Despite her efforts, the Fever could not secure the win. Aliyah Boston contributed significantly, adding 16 points and an impressive 19 rebounds.
In a tense moment with just over two minutes left in the game, Boston’s layup gave Indiana a narrow 77-75 lead. However, DeWanna Bonner, marking her 82nd playoff game to tie the WNBA record previously held by Lindsay Whalen, quickly responded by sinking a 3-pointer just 14 seconds later, regaining the lead for Connecticut.
Both teams struggled to score in the ensuing possessions until Marina Mabrey knocked down a critical 3-pointer from the wing with 45.5 seconds remaining, extending the Sun’s lead to 81-77.
On the Fever’s next possession, Kelsey Mitchell missed a 3-pointer, and the Sun secured the victory by converting their free throws down the stretch.
With this hard-fought win, Connecticut demonstrated their resilience and depth as they prepare for the challenges ahead in the semifinals.
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