WNBA Playoff Bracket 2024: Up to date Image After Caitlin Clark, Fever Lose to Solar

Caitlin Clark had the most effective, and positively most impactful, rookie seasons in WNBA historical past. And sure, it will possibly now be described prior to now tense.

The Connecticut Solar ended the Indiana Fever’s season on Wednesday night time, successful Recreation 2 of the first-round sequence between the groups, 87-81, and finishing the sweep.

For the Solar, a matchup with both the Phoenix Mercury or Minnesota Lynx stays. For Clark and the Fever, a implausible season has come to an in depth, although the long run stays brilliant.

Wednesday’s Outcomes

Solar def. Fever, 87-81

Lynx def. Mercury, 101-88

Upcoming Schedule

Semifinals

Recreation 1: Las Vegas Aces at New York Liberty

Sunday, Sept. 29 (3 p.m. ET)

Recreation 1: Connecticut Solar at Minnesota Lynx

Sunday, Sept. 29 (8:30 p.m. ET)

Lynx def. Mercury, 101-88

After dropping 38 factors in Recreation 1, Napheesa Collier tied the WNBA playoff report with 42 factors on 14-of-20 capturing to guide Minnesota to a sweep over Phoenix.

All 5 Minnesota starters scored in double figures. The workforce shot 50.7 % from the sector and compelled 14 turnovers.

The distinction in expertise was an excessive amount of for the Mercury to beat. They got here out of the gate sturdy with a 25-21 lead on the finish of the primary quarter.

It was the third quarter that proved to be the distinction. The Lynx opened the second half with a two level lead earlier than extending it to 76-64 on the finish of the third interval.

This loss might mark the top of Diana Taurasi’s legendary profession. She obtained an ovation from the Minnesota crowd after fouling out late within the fourth quarter.

“I do not know,” Taurasi said when requested about presumably retiring after a Sept. 17 recreation in opposition to the Los Angeles Sparks. “The final couple of weeks have been a little bit nerve-racking for myself. I do not need to make any emotional, rash choices. I do know the top is close to. When that’s, I do not know.”

A 3-time WNBA MVP, Taurasi did not make any definitive statements about her future after Wednesday’s loss. She completed with 10 factors and three assists in half-hour.

The win earned the Lynx their first postseason sequence victory since 2021. This marks their first look within the semifinals since 2020 once they had been swept by the Seattle Storm.

Minnesota will host Connecticut in Recreation 1 of the semifinals on Sunday. The Solar went 2-1 in opposition to the Lynx within the common season, with all three video games determined by 5 factors or much less.

Solar def. Fever, 87-81

Clark didn’t go down with no battle, scoring a game-high 25 factors to associate with 9 assists and 6 rebounds.

The expertise and depth of the Solar was an excessive amount of to beat, nonetheless, as all seven Connecticut gamers who appeared within the recreation scored eight or extra factors. Alyssa Thompson was implausible, posting a 19-point, 13-assist double-double.

The charity stripe performed an enormous function within the contest as nicely, because the Solar hit 22 of their 23 free-throw makes an attempt. The Fever had been simply 7-of-9 from the free-throw line.

The Fever raced out to an early 13-4 lead within the first quarter. However the Solar responded with a 13-1 result in finish the quarter and appeared to take management from there, main by as many as 11 factors early within the fourth quarter.

However the Fever fought again, pulling forward on a Clark three-pointer with precisely 4 minutes remaining, and the 2 groups traded haymakers from there, organising the implausible end.

The dagger got here with about 46 seconds remaining, as a Marina Mabrey three put the Solar up by 4. Kelsey Mitchell missed a 3 of her personal on Indiana’s subsequent possession, the Solar made all six free-throw makes an attempt down the stretch, and Clark’s season got here to an in depth.

It was a superb journey, and nothing however greater issues are anticipated. However the WNBA is a special beast, and the Fever aren’t among the many league’s elite simply but.