Alyssa Thomas shines with another triple-double as Sun Fever defeats Caitlin Clark in playoff debut

September 22, 2024

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Alyssa Thomas shines with another triple-double as Sun Fever defeats Caitlin Clark in playoff debut

UNCASVILLE, Conn. — It’s been more than four months since Caitlin Clark began her WNBA career at Mohegan Sun Arena against the Connecticut Sun on opening night of the 2024 season. But during the Indiana Fever’s playoff debut against the Sun on Sunday, it felt like May.

Connecticut was the more composed, experienced team and executed as much in a 93-69 victory. The Sun’s defense — along with some odd clock issues in the first half — prevented the Fever from ever creating a flow on offense, as they flooded the passing lanes and used their length to deter shots.

Indiana wasn’t as fouled as it was earlier in the season, but their ball retention wasn’t paying off either, with their shooting below 40 percent for the seventh time this year.

Meanwhile, Connecticut had its usual balanced attack from the floor. Just like in the first meeting between the two teams, Alyssa Thomas had a triple-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists. She now has four of the six triple-doubles in WNBA playoff history, her latest coming on a day when she finished fifth in the MVP voting, one spot behind Clark.

Thomas’ fiancée DeWanna Bonner was just as productive. She was assigned to defend Clark and was excellent against the rookie, preventing her from getting to the left and swallowing up Clark’s drives. Bonner had 22 points, five assists and two blocks, and the Sun had a game-high plus-22 in her minutes.

Connecticut also had some unexpected success from beyond the arc. Marina Mabrey — forced into heavy minutes after a first-half injury to Ty Harris — got her shot in the third quarter, finishing with five triples. The Sun finished with nine as a team, just the 11th time this season they’ve made at least eight in a game (which, you guessed it, includes opening night); they’re 10-1 when they make that total from the 3-point line.

Although the margin grew in the fourth quarter, Connecticut had control of the Fever from the middle of the second quarter. The Sun defied the early excitement of their youthful opponents and then dominated the remainder of the game in familiar fashion.

Game 2 between Indiana and Connecticut will be played Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time at Mohegan Sun Arena.