The first week of her first WNBA season did not go well for No. 1 draft pick Caitlin Clark.
In Clark’s first three games with the Indiana Fever, the new star has seen off two playoff teams, reigning MVP Breanna Stewart, 2024 MVP runner-up Alyssa Thomas, former MVP Jonquel Jones and six other All-Stars. The Fever suffered two consecutive losses to last year’s finals runner-up, the New York Liberty, dropping to 0-3, and now faces another rematch with the Connecticut Sun on Monday in Indianapolis.
Connecticut dominated the Fever 92-71 in their opening day matchup last Tuesday, led by Thomas’ 12th triple double of her career. DeWanna Bonner made her 15th season start with 20 points to become the No. 5 leading scorer in WNBA history. DiJonai Carrington was the breakout star for her defensive effort on Clark, holding the Indiana point guard to 2-of-10 shooting and forcing eight of 10 turnovers as her primary guard. The rookie scored 20 points but shot just 5-of-15 from the field and 4-of-11 from 3-point range.
“What (Clarke) did well in college, she will continue to do well here, but you learn some other things you didn’t do naturally,” Sun coach Stephanie White said. “You can’t be one-dimensional … There are a lot of intricacies to her game when she has the ball in her hands, but great teams and great defensive players will force you to do something different. It’s an acquired skill, and it’s about continuing to work and develop your game.”
Veteran Connecticut Sun teaches rookie Kaitlin Clark a lesson in Indiana Fever’s 92-71 season-opener win
It’s always been a steep learning curve for the Fever’s very young players, and the first few opponents give them little opportunity to figure things out in-game. Still, back-to-back contests against New York showed what Indiana can do. Clarke had her worst game as a pro in the Fever’s home opener, shooting 25% from the field and 13 of 13. She followed that up with her best performance at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, scoring 22 points on 9 of 17 shots from the field, 4 of 10 on 3-pointers and grabbing six rebounds.
Turnovers remain a concern for Clarke, who committed eight turnovers against New York after recording 10 at Connecticut, but her production as a facilitator increased when the Sun held her to just three assists. She totaled 13 assists in the two Liberty games.
“When I see what people are talking about Caitlin Clark, it’s like, ‘Calm down,’” White said with a laugh. “She’ll be fine. There’s two games left, are you kidding? She’s a student of the game. She’s gotten better every year. You’re not going to easily absorb all the new information that comes in in two games, in two weeks. It takes time.”
The Sun enter the rematch 2-0 after an ugly win against the Washington Mystics on Friday. Carrington continued her impressive streak with 21 points, and Bonner recorded a second 20-a-piece with 22 points, but the veteran was openly surprised by the team’s 10% shooting from 3-point range. Connecticut has also struggled to maintain its defensive sets since White started the bench rotation, so cleaning up schemes is a priority in the second matchup.
Clarke may have some pressure on his shoulders to return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to redeem himself from a disappointing home opener, but the Suns have had no shortage of bulletin-board material in a hostile environment. From the uneven rollout of the league’s new charter flight program to Pat McPhee’s stunned reaction Despite the talent ahead of Clark in the WNBA, Connecticut still has something to prove to a national audience on ESPN.
“The most important thing after this game is preparation … for a lot of the players, whether they’re injured or haven’t played overseas, (we’re still) working on getting back into the rhythm of the game with a lot of new players,” White said after the Washington game. “But we always have to be on top of our energy, intensity and discipline on the defensive end. I didn’t feel like we were there tonight. So it’s our responsibility as a coaching staff to make sure we get in there and make sure we’re ready and make sure there’s clarity, and then it’s on them to go out and execute it and show some attention to detail.”
How to watch the Connecticut Sun on Indiana Fever
site: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
Time: 7pm ET
last meeting: 92-71 Connecticut; May 14, at Mohegan Sun Arena
TV: ESPN
Streaming: WNBA League Pass
