Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever secure sixth seed in WNBA playoffs
USA TODAY’s Lindsay Schnell explains how impressive Caitlin Clark has been in helping to secure the sixth seed in the WNBA playoffs.
Sports Pulse
WNBA playoff season is here and for the first time in nearly a decade, the Indiana Fever are joining the party.
When Caitlin Clark was drafted No. 1 in April, the question on everyone’s mind was if the record-setting sensation from Iowa could lift the Fever back to the postseason. She did just that, helping Indiana secure the No. 6 seed. Now the question is, can they win a playoff series — or even a playoff game?
That journey starts Sunday, as the Fever take on No. 3 seed Connecticut in the Sun’s home arena. The teams met four times in the regular season, with Connecticut winning three of those games. But Indiana won the most recent matchup, 84-80, on Aug. 28.
The favorite for Rookie of the Year has helped the league experience unprecedented popularity this season and gotten plenty of attention and accolades herself. Early Sunday, when A’ja Wilson was named the unanimous MVP it was also revealed that Clark finished ahead of Connecticut’s do-everything guard/forward Alyssa Thomas in MVP voting (Clark was fourth with 130 votes, Thomas finished fifth with 83). Does Thomas use that as motivation Sunday, Wednesday and possibly Friday in their best-of-three series?
One other thing to keep in mind: Connecticut guard Marina Mabrey, who was traded to the Sun just before the Olympic break, only played in the final Indiana-Connecticut matchup, when she and the Sun were still feeling each other out. She’s a seamless part of their offense now. Does that make her the X-factor of this series?
MORE: ‘Marvel at it now:’ A’ja Wilson’s greatness on display as Aces pursue WNBA three-peat
MORE: WNBA postseason preview: Strengths and weaknesses for all 8 playoff teams
Ty Harris twists ankle, down for Sun
Connecticut guard Ty Harris, a starter for the Sun who averaged 10.5 points and 3.0 assists during the regular season, went down with a right ankle injury with 6:16 to play in the first quarter and had to be helped to the bench.
Harris went flying out to contest a 3 from Indiana’s Lexie Hull and landed on Hull’s foot as she came down, badly rolling her right ankle. She went straight back to the locker room. ABC reported she was doubtful to return.
Indiana Fever at Connecticut Sun
The Fever travel to the Sun for Game 1 of their best-of-three first-round playoff series Sunday.
What time is Game 1 of Indiana Fever at Connecticut Sun?
Game time is 3 p.m.
How to watch Indiana Fever at Connecticut Sun
The game will be broadcast on ABC. It will be available to view on demand on WNBA League Pass after it concludes. Fans can get the WNBA League Pass by downloading the WNBA app.
How to stream Indiana Fever at Connecticut Sun
The game can be streamed on Fubo.
Liberty rout Dream 83-69 in first WNBA playoff game
Behind 21 points from rookie Leonie Fiebich the New York Liberty easily handled Game 1 of its series against Atlanta Sunday, beating the Dream 83-69 to take a 1-0 lead in the three-game series.
Fiebich, a rookie from Germany who played for the German national team this summer at the Paris Olympics, shot 7-of-8 from the field, including 4-of-4 from 3. Sabrina Ionescu chipped in 17 points while Breanna Stewart recorded a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds.
New York guard Courtney Vandersloot, one of the best passers in the WNBA, became the league’s career playoff assists leader, passing 13-time All-Star Sue Bird, who played 19 seasons in Seattle. Vandersloot handed out three assists Sunday, bringing her career playoff total to 365.
Rhyne Howard scored 14 to lead the Dream.
The teams meet for Game 2, also in New York, on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
Indiana Fever vs. Connecticut Sun postseason schedule
- Sunday, Game 1: Indiana at Connecticut (3 p.m., ABC)
- Wednesday, Game 2: Indiana at Connecticut (7:30 p.m., ESPN)
- Friday, Game 3*: Connecticut at Indiana (TBD, ESPN 2)
(* – If necessary; all times Eastern)
WNBA postseason schedule
Sunday:
- Game 1: Atlanta at New York (1 p.m., ESPN)
- Game 1: Indiana at Connecticut (3 p.m., ABC)
- Game 1: Phoenix at Minnesota (5 p.m., ESPN)
- Game 1: Seattle at Las Vegas (10 p.m., ESPN)
Tuesday:
- Game 2: Atlanta at New York (7:30 p.m., ESPN)
- Game 2: Seattle at Las Vegas (9:30 p.m., ESPN)
Wednesday:
- Game 2: Indiana at Connecticut (7:30 p.m., ESPN)
- Game 2: Phoenix at Minnesota (9:30 p.m., ESPN)
Thursday:
- Game 3*: New York at Atlanta (TBD, ESPN 2)
- Game 3*: Las Vegas at Seattle (TBD, ESPN 2)
Friday:
- Game 3*: Connecticut at Indiana (TBD, ESPN 2)
- Game 3*: Minnesota at Phoenix (TBD, ESPN 2)
(* – If necessary; all times Eastern)
- Nancy Armour: Sun over Fever in 2
- Scooby Axson: Sun over Fever in 2
- Ellen J. Horrow: Sun over Fever in 3
- Jordan Mendoza: Sun over Fever in 3
- Lindsay Schnell: Sun over Fever in 2
Read more prognostications and analysis here.
A’ja Wilson won her third MVP award Sunday, joining Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie and Lauren Jackson as the only players with three. Wilson joined Cynthia Cooper (1997) as the only players selected in a unanimous vote. And the Las Vegas Aces star did it by becoming the first WNBA player to lead the league in points, rebounds and blocks.
Caitlin Clark, who is expected to easily win Rookie of the Year, finished fourth in the voting, behind Napheesa Collier, of the Minnesota Lynx, and Breanna Stewart of the Aces.
WNBA star A’ja Wilson wins unanimously the MVP award
Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson has unanimously taken home the MVP award.
Sports Seriously
The Fever rookie made headlines all summer with her head-turning play. Revisit her accomplishments in this graphic.
Like most WNBA fans, Lexie Hull consumes a lot of Caitlin Clark content.
Any time Clark breaks a record, says something interesting or, like, sneezes, Hull is made aware.
But when Hull, Clark and Katie Lou Samuelson traveled with their boyfriends (in Samuelson’s case, husband) to Mexico for a much-needed beach vacation during the WNBA Olympic break, Hull learned something new about Clark.
The No. 1 pick of the 2024 draft and the overwhelming favorite to win Rookie of the Year is . . . funny.
Goofy, even. A prankster.
“She loves to stir up some trouble, that’s for sure. If you need a laugh, she’ll get it done for you,” Hull told USA TODAY Sports. Read full story here.
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