Connecticut Sun at Indiana Fever
· Women's National Basketball AssociationCaitlin Clark sets WNBA rookie record for 3s as Fever beat Sun and snap 11-game skid in series
It was Indiana's first win against Connecticut since July 3, 2021. The Fever (15-16) have won four of five since returning from the WNBA's Olympic break while the Sun saw their three-game winning streak come to an end.
Neither team led by double figures in a game where Clark set a WNBA rookie record for 3-pointers, passing Rhyne Howard’s 85 in 2022, with a triple in the first quarter. Clark added two more 3-pointers before finishing 3 of 12, giving her 88 on the season.
For Mitchell, it was her fifth consecutive game with 20-plus points, a franchise record. Her connection with Clark continues to grow.
“I think the best part about it is that our chemistry continues to get better,” Mitchell said during a postgame interview with NBATV. “I value what Caitlin brings to the table because not only does she have the pace and the space, but she can shoot the lights out and you just got to be ready when your number’s called with a person like that.”
With Indiana leading 82-80, Clark had a long 3-pointer rattle out and Connecticut called a timeout with 38.6 seconds left. Marina Mabrey worked the clock down before passing it to Alyssa Thomas, who had it stolen by Indiana's Temi Fagbenle with 24.1 remaining.
Lexie Hull, a 76% free-throw shooter, made two free throws with 19.4 seconds left to give Indiana a four-point lead. DiJonai Carrington was short on a 3-point attempt and Clark grabbed the rebound before running out the clock.
Hull, in her second start of the season, had 17 points and eight rebounds for Indiana. The Fever went 13 of 30 from distance, with four 3-pointers apiece from Hull and Mitchell.
Carrington scored 19 points, Thomas had 17 points, six rebounds and six assists, and Mabrey added 16 points off the bench for Connecticut (22-8). DeWanna Bonner had 13 points and eight rebounds.
Indiana led 51-42 at halftime behind three double-digit scorers. Mitchell scored 13 points, and Hull and Clark each had 10. The Fever shot 55% in the first half as the teams combined for 21 turnovers.
Simone Biles, fresh off winning three more Olympic gold medals in Paris, was in attendance. Gabby Thomas, who won three gold medals in track, also posed for photos with players in the Fever locker room after the game.
Regular Season Series
CONN wins series 3-1
Recent Plays
4th 0.0 | End of Game | 80 - 84 | |
4th 0.0 | End of the 4th Quarter | 80 - 84 | |
4th 10.0 | Caitlin Clark defensive rebound | 80 - 84 | |
4th 14.0 | DiJonai Carrington misses 27-foot three point jumper | 80 - 84 | |
4th 19.1 | Marina Mabrey enters the game for Veronica Burton | 80 - 84 |
Statistics
CONN | IND | |
---|---|---|
30-66 | FG | 31-66 |
45.5 | Field Goal % | 47.0 |
8-24 | 3PT | 13-30 |
33.3 | Three Point % | 43.3 |
12-17 | FT | 9-11 |
70.6 | Free Throw % | 81.8 |
27 | Rebounds | 35 |
4 | Offensive Rebounds | 8 |
23 | Defensive Rebounds | 27 |
19 | Assists | 20 |
14 | Steals | 5 |
4 | Blocks | 5 |
14 | Turnovers | 19 |
2 | Team Turnovers | 1 |
16 | Total Turnovers | 20 |
0 | Technical Fouls | 1 |
0 | Total Technical Fouls | 1 |
0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
21 | Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 20 |
25 | Fast Break Points | 5 |
38 | Points in Paint | 28 |
13 | Fouls | 17 |
6 | Largest Lead | 9 |
Game Information
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Attendance: 17,274 · Capacity:
2023-24 Eastern Conference Standings
TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
New York | - | 8 | L1 | 0.8 | 32 |
Connecticut | 4 | 12 | W1 | 0.7 | 28 |
Indiana | 12 | 20 | L1 | 0.5 | 20 |
Atlanta | 17 | 25 | W3 | 0.375 | 15 |
Washington | 18 | 26 | W1 | 0.35 | 14 |
Chicago | 19 | 27 | L5 | 0.325 | 13 |
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