Alyssa Thomas' triple-double carries Sun past Fever in playoff opener

Field Level Media|published: Sun 22nd September, 17:52 2024

Sep 22, 2024; Uncasville, Connecticut, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) dribbles the ball against Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas (25) and Connecticut Sun guard Marina Mabrey (4) in the second quarter during game one of the first round of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs at Mohegan Sun Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark Smith-Imagn Images

Alyssa Thomas recorded her WNBA-leading 15th career triple-double and fourth in the postseason as the Connecticut Sun overwhelmed the visiting Indiana Fever 93-69 in the opener of their best-of-three series on Sunday in Uncasville, Conn.

Thomas finished with 12 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds, and Marina Mabrey led all scorers with a game-high 27 points off the Connecticut bench. Mabrey shot 5 of 12 from 3-point range, knocking down almost as many from beyond the arc as Indiana (6 of 28) had as a team.

Indiana star Caitlin Clark, introduced as the unanimous 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year, was 4 of 17 from the floor, including 2 of 13 from 3-point range, and went to the foul line just twice (making one) for 11 total points. She also had a team-high eight assists.

Fever teammate Kelsey Mitchell had 21 points but was just 2 of 10 from distance, and center Aliyah Boston had a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Connecticut's DeWanna Bonner was 7-of-11 shooting from the floor for 22 points, grabbed six rebounds and dished five assists. DiJonai Carrington added 14 points and five rebounds.

After a closely contested first half, the Sun began to create some distance midway through the third quarter. After Clark knocked down a 3-pointer that pulled the Fever to within six points, Connecticut responded with a 13-4 run over the ensuing three minutes, building a double-digit-point lead that ballooned throughout the fourth quarter.

For the game, Connecticut shot 9 of 18 from 3-point range and 36 of 73 overall (49.3 percent) from the floor. Indiana went 27-of-67 shooting (40.3 percent).

The loss spoiled Indiana's first playoff game since 2016, when the coach was Stephanie White, now the Sun's head coach.

The Fever surged in the second half of the regular season, but that includes losing the regular-season series against Connecticut three games to one. The Fever's 69 points were their lowest total in five meetings with the Sun this season.

The Sun host the Fever on Wednesday, with Game 3, if necessary, on Friday in Indianapolis.

--Field Level Media

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