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    • WNBA Playoffs: Caitlin Clark provides updates, highlights and analysis as Fever take on Sun in Game 2
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    WNBA Playoffs: Caitlin Clark provides updates, highlights and analysis as Fever take on Sun in Game 2

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    Indiana Fever’s first playoff game since 2016 didn’t go exactly as planned.

    Caitlin Clark and the rest of her team struggled with shooting on Sunday and were defeated in the first game of their best-of-three first-round series by an experienced Connecticut Sun team.

    Visiting Indiana knows the task ahead of them in Wednesday’s second game won’t be easy and realizes Connecticut has a huge advantage in postseason experience.

    From Cassandra Negley of Yahoo Sports:

    Four of the five Fever starters have less than three years of WNBA experience. They all made deep March Madness runs in college, but entered the first-round series with zero combined games of WNBA playoff experience. That includes seven-year veteran guard Kelsey Mitchell.

    Caitlin Clark, who just played in back-to-back Final Fours, said Tuesday that the intensity, pressure and win-or-go-home situation are similar to college but still different for a rookie at the pro level.

    “It’s a learning curve for me too,” Clark said. “This is obviously my first playoff. This is this team’s first playoff for a lot of people. We’re all going through it at the same time and learning from it. You don’t always know what to expect because a lot of us have never been here before.”

    UNCASVILLE, CT - SEPTEMBER 22: Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) drives to the basket against Connecticut Sun forward DeWanna Bonner (24) and Connecticut Sun forward Brionna Jones (42) during Round 1 and Game 1 of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs between the Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun on September 22, 2024 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. (Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)UNCASVILLE, CT - SEPTEMBER 22: Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) drives to the basket against Connecticut Sun forward DeWanna Bonner (24) and Connecticut Sun forward Brionna Jones (42) during Round 1 and Game 1 of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs between the Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun on September 22, 2024 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. (Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

    The Sun claimed a 93-69 victory over Caitlin Clark and the Fever in Game 1 of the series on Sunday. (M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images)

    The Fever have a chance to survive Wednesday night and extend Clark’s magical rookie season. But they’ll have to shoot better, impose their will in transition and weather the Sun’s intensity.

    Live15 updates

    • Not even out of the first quarter and Aliyah Boston already has two fouls. That’s going to hurt. Smith comes in for her. Within a minute, Kelsey Mitchell is called for her second whistle. At this point, the number of players who have NOT spoken to the referees about the officiating is pretty low.

    • Christie Sides was in an extended chat with the referee on the Fever bench after DiJonai Carrington spiked Clark’s ball into the backcourt. Clark came over to chat. Carrington came over next.

    • 1Q 4:51 | Fever 10, Sun 4

      A much better start for the Fever. Clark quickly has three points, four rebounds and three assists. Aliyah Boston sets up Bri Jones in the paint with four rebounds and Fagbenle has three. Sun is 1-11 from the field to start.

    • Fireworks between DeWanna Bonner and Caitlin Clark early in the game. Clark called for a foul on a deep 3-point attempt.

    • Caitlin Clark scores her first shot — a 3-pointer — at 9:33 of the first quarter.

    • Oh, okay, Caitlin Clark starts this one off with a 3. Is classic Caitlin unlocked?

    • Both sides spoke of urgency. Indiana is playing to extend its season. The Sun don’t want to take it to Indianapolis for two reasons. First, that place is going to ROCK for a Game 3. And if the Sun pulls it off tonight, they’ll have a few more days of rest before the semifinals begin on Sunday. If No. 2 Minnesota wins the series against Phoenix, Connecticut starts away.

    • Game 2 is about to begin here at Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut. Two big lineup changes:

      Fever: Temi Fagbenle replaces NaLyssa Smith. Smith played 8:53 of Game 1 and went without a goal (one attempt). Fagbenle also went without a goal in 12:57 of action, but is one of the few Fever players with playoff experience and is a great running mate with Clark in transition. It is her third start of the season.

      Sun: Head coach Stephanie White said before the game that Ty Harris would be unable to play after injuring her leg in Game 1. Marina Mabrey will get the start. It will be her fourth with Connecticut following the midseason trade.

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