Game Recap: The Fever season ends with a loss in Game 2 on Sunday

UNCASVILLE, CONN. – The 2024 season came to an end for the Indiana Fever on Wednesday night in Game 2 of the first round of the postseason series against the Connecticut Sun after a narrow 87-81 loss at Mohegan Sun Arena. The Fever fought from an 11-point deficit late in the fourth quarter to take a 77-75 lead, but Connecticut closed things out with a 12-4 run to clinch the series.

Three Fever players scored in double figures in the loss, led by rookie guard Caitlin Clark, who scored 25 points, the most points ever scored by a rookie in a Game 2 of a playoff series, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Clark also finished with nine assists, six rebounds, one block and one steal. Fever center Aliyah Boston scored 16 points on 7 of 12 field goals, a career-best 19 rebounds, including 11 in the first half, three assists, two blocks and a steal. Boston's 11 first-half rebounds tied the franchise record for most rebounds in a half in a playoff game.

Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell followed with 17 points, three rebounds and three assists. Fever forward Temi Fagbenle made her first career postseason start on Wednesday and nearly posted a double-double, posting nine points, nine rebounds, three assists and a steal. In her second career postseason start, guard Lexie Hull finished with eight points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal.

Clark opened the night with a made 3-point field goal as Indiana went on a 14-6 run for more than six minutes in the first quarter, limiting Connecticut to just 1 of 13 field goal shots early in the game. Indiana trailed by as many as 10 points in the second quarter, but the deficit was only 41-34 at halftime. Indiana opened the second half with a quick 7-0 run and a layup by Boston evened the score at 41-41. The Fever briefly took a 48-47 lead with five minutes left in the third quarter, but another Connecticut run at the end of the break gave the Sun a 61-52 lead heading into the final quarter. Indiana went on a 14-5 run and had a 77-75 lead with two minutes to play before Connecticut finally secured the win.

Indiana outscored Connecticut in paint points (48-40), fast break points (19-9) and outscored the Sun (43-29).

Connecticut's win on Wednesday puts the Sun in the semifinal round and awaits the winner of the first-round series between the Minnesota Lynx and Phoenix Mercury. Five Sun players scored in double figures on Wednesday, led by forward Alyssa Thomas with 19 points and 13 assists. Thomas holds the record for most double-doubles in WNBA playoff history. Sun guard Marina Mabrey made her first postseason start at Connecticut on Wednesday, replacing Tyasha Harris, who suffered an ankle injury in Game 1. Mabrey finished the game with 17 points, six assists, four of which came in the third quarter, two rebounds and two blocks. Suns forward DeWanna Bonner played her 82nd playoff game on Wednesday, tying Lindsay Whalen for first place on the WNBA's all-time postseason games played list. Bonner capped her night with 15 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals, passing Teresa Weatherspoon for 11th place on the WNBA's all-time playoff assists list with 187 assists, guarding Veronica Burton's 10 points.