Clark struggles in playoff debut loss to Sun
Indiana Fever phenom Caitlin Clark struggled in her postseason debut, recording 11 points on 4-of-17 shooting - including 2-of-13 from deep - in the team's 93-69 loss to the Connecticut Sun in Game 1 on Sunday.
"I felt like I got good shots, they just didn't go down," Clark said postgame. "Obviously a tough time for that to happen. I got some really good looks, I had two pretty wide-open threes in the first half that I usually make, so that's tough. I felt like I battled and tried my best, took care of the ball better than I usually do."
Kelsey Mitchell led the team in scoring with 21 points, while Aliyah Boston added 17 points and 11 rebounds. Clark still led the team with eight assists.
Clark, 22, was named Rookie of the Year by The Associated Press. She finished fourth in voting for MVP, which was won by Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson. She was poked in the eye by Sun guard DiJonai Carrington.
"We were right there. I felt like we played a crappy game," Clark said. "The flow of the game was really bad. I don't know if that was reffing. It was partly us because we struggled to get stops at times, but also the clock getting messed up. It was one thing after the next."
This was the Fever's first playoff game since 2016. They made the postseason as the No. 6 seed, while Connecticut clinched the No. 3 seed.
Sun reserve guard Marina Mabrey led the team in scoring with 27 points, the most recorded by a player coming off the bench in a WNBA playoff game. Veteran forward Alyssa Thomas also recorded a 12-point, 10-rebound, 13-assist triple-double.
Connecticut can eliminate the Fever in Game 2 on Wednesday.