Connecticut seeks season sweep of Indiana

Field Level Media|published: Tue 27th August, 17:07 2024

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts as she misses a three-point field goal during the second half of a game against the Seattle Storm on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Fever defeated the Storm 92-75.

The Connecticut Sun will look to complete a four-game season sweep of the Indiana Fever when the teams meet Wednesday night at Indianapolis.

Connecticut defeated the Fever 92-71 in Caitlin Clark's professional debut on May 14 and later added victories of four and 17 points.

Clark averaged 15.7 points in the three setbacks against the Sun. In her first game, she scored 20 points on 5-of-15 shooting from the field and committed 10 turnovers.

Of course, Clark has since settled in and is performing admirably for the Fever (14-16). She is averaging 18 points, 8.2 assists and 5.8 rebounds a game.

Clark scored 19 points in Monday's 84-79 road victory over the Atlanta Dream. Though that ended her string of four straight 20-point efforts, it marked Indiana's fifth win in the past seven games.

"Our chemistry has improved," Clark said. "I'm really excited because I feel like there's so many areas for me to continue to get better, and that's exciting as a player."

Clark made four 3-pointers in the Dream contest to raise her season total to 85. That tied the WNBA rookie record set by Atlanta's Rhyne Howard in 2022.

Over the last nine games, Clark is averaging 22.6 points, 10.9 assists and six rebounds.

Kelsey Mitchell paced Indiana with 29 points against Atlanta on Monday. Mitchell is averaging 26.3 points over the past four games.

Second-place Connecticut (22-7) has won three straight games and eight of its last 11.

The Sun clinched a playoff spot Saturday with a 72-64 road victory over the first-place New York Liberty.

"The playoffs are a whole different season and beast," Connecticut's DeWanna Bonner said. "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it."

Newcomer Marina Mabrey contributed 15 points in the victory. She was acquired in mid-July just before the Olympic break from the Chicago Sky, and Saturday's victory was her fifth game for the Sun.

She is averaging 14.4 points during the span, including a 24-point outing against her former team on Friday. The Sun won 82-80.

"I'm just going to do what the team needs," Mabrey said. "If it means that this game they wanted to bring me off the bench, some games I might start, some games I might not, I just want to help us get a win."

--Field Level Media

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