Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
A valiant comeback effort from Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever fell simply brief because the Connecticut Solar earned the two-game first-round playoff sweep with an 87-81 dwelling win on Wednesday night.
Clark completed with 25 factors, 9 assists and 6 rebounds, whereas teammate Aliyah Boston had a 16-point, 19-rebound effort.
StatMamba @StatMamba
Caitlin Clark tonight:
25 PTS
6 REB
9 ASTThe final rookie in NBA/WNBA playoff historical past to achieve these numbers was Magic Johnson (1980). pic.twitter.com/UHzHRDbZYz
However the Solar’s balanced scoring assault proved too robust. All seven Solar gamers scored eight or extra factors, led by Alyssa Thomas’ 19-point, 13-rebound night.
Connecticut led 63-52 early within the fourth quarter, however Indiana chipped away and finally responded with a 12-3 run capped by a Boston layup to go up 75-73 with 2:41 left. That run additionally included this off-balance Clark three following an preliminary double staff.
WNBA @WNBA
CAITLIN. CLARK. 🤯
The Indiana Fever regain the lead for the primary time because the 1Q on ESPN#WNBAPlayoffs offered by @google pic.twitter.com/wUcMDF9Rva
Solar ahead DeWanna Bonner made a layup in response earlier than Boston added one other two-point bucket.
However Connecticut then went on a 12-2 run. Bonner made a 3 to place the Solar up for good after Boston’s bucket, and Marina Mabrey later hit a triple after Bonner stole a Kelsey Mitchell move for a 81-77 edge.
WNBA @WNBA
DeWanna Bonner has a solution for EVERY SINGLE BUCKET the Fever are making within the 4Q 😤#WNBAPlayoffs offered by @google pic.twitter.com/zrddcRFkbJ
WNBA @WNBA
HUGE BUCKET MARINA MABREY 🚨#WNBAPlayoffs offered by @google pic.twitter.com/SIu0aFYiFY
The Solar iced the sport with free throws.
And with that, Clark’s rookie season got here to an in depth. The unanimous WNBA Rookie of the 12 months starred in her first skilled marketing campaign, averaging 19.2 factors, 8.4 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals. She led the league in three-pointers made and assists as nicely. The Fever additionally broke a seven-year streak of dropping information and missed playoffs, going 20-20 (overcoming a 3-10 begin) and getting the sixth seed.
Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
Shoutout Caitlin Clark for an UNREAL rookie season 👏
⭐️ First rookie to document a triple-double
⭐️ WNBA document for mosts assists in a season
⭐️ Report for many threes made by a rookie
⭐️ Quickest participant to 500 PTS & 200 AST
⭐️ Helped lead Fever to 1st playoff app. since 2016
Joe Pompliano @JoePompliano
Caitlin Clark had an unbelievable yr:
• Set NCAA scoring document
• 18M viewers for the nationwide title sport
• #1 general WNBA draft choose
• Rookie of the 12 months & WNBA 1st staff
• Set viewership & attendance information
• Signed a $28 million Nike dealActually modified the sport 👏 pic.twitter.com/JcQNukKDyW
Actual Sports activities @realapp_
Caitlin Clark’s historic rookie season has formally come to an finish pic.twitter.com/BSP1dTxXlW
Vibrant days are forward for Clark, Boston and the Fever. Within the meantime, followers acknowledged Clark’s exploits as her season got here to an finish.
73-9 and THEY LIED @CuffsTheLegend
Thanks Caitlin Clark for giving us the most effective WNBA rookie season we have ever seen!
You’ve got modified ladies’s basketball eternally in simply your first yr within the league. It is solely gonna get higher from right here! ⭐️ 🐐 pic.twitter.com/THeSLy7tLf
Speaking WNBA @TalkingWNBA
Aliyah Boston: 16 pts, 18 rebounds
Caitlin Clark: 25 pts, 9 asts, 6 refs
Fever lose the sequence 0-2.The Future is vibrant in Indiana. pic.twitter.com/mopPK8xsz3
NBACentral @TheDunkCentral
Caitlin Clark tonight:
25 factors
9 assists
6 reboundsSuperb season from an incredible rookie 💪 See you subsequent yr 🫡 pic.twitter.com/s1XHhH3XoK
Jason Timpf @_JasonLT
Shout out to Caitlin Clark, man…
Mainly 12 straight months of hoops, all with insane strain and expectations and he or she simply stored getting higher the entire approach. Hooped her ass off.
Hoop Central @TheHoopCentral
Caitlin Clark’s historic season involves an finish tonight.
Solely going up from right here. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/hnpPICVySz
Omar S. @OmarJS22
Caitlin Clark broke the wnba rookie information for scoring and help. Lead the league in help this yr and sixth in scoring and obtained the worst staff final season into the playoffs. A lot for the overrated speak 🤷
Ladies’s Hoops Community @WomensHoops_USA
Caitlin Clark ends her historic rookie season with:
• 19.2 ppg (seventh in WNBA)
• 5.7 rebounds per sport
• 8.4 assists per sport (1st in WNBA)
•Numerous information damagedCongrats Caitlin 🎉🎉🎉 pic.twitter.com/kG5IuDi421
Rachel Nichols @Rachel__Nichols
Marina Mabrey is a stud. Hats off to the Solar, and what an unbelievable run for Caitlin Clark, who over the previous six months set off a sequence of earthquakes that completely shook the sports activities world. The panorama is altering altering altering & it continues to be a lot enjoyable to observe.
Clark Report @CClarkReport
No rookie has ever come into the WNBA greater greater expectations
Caitlin Clark exceeded all of them
Thanks for giving us all a season we’ll always remember 🫡 pic.twitter.com/371Ee2gYhK
Matt Ellentuck @mellentuck
caitlin clark, thanks for a ridiculous year-long stretch of must-watch basketball
it has been so freaking enjoyable
Troy Banning @TroyBanning
Caitlin Clark could sleep for six months straight. And I would not blame her one bit if she did.
That is an 11-month stretch of eyeballs, strain and a complete lot of bull💩 that I can’t bear in mind one other athlete having to endure.
Russ’ TD ⚡ @RussFcb
Let’s all admire what Caitlin Clark achieved as a rookie. This was the most effective rookie season in WNBA historical past https://t.co/WBz8ES5Llk
As for the Solar, Connecticut has now made six straight WNBA semifinal rounds and awaits the winner of the Minnesota Lynx vs. Phoenix Mercury sequence. The New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces will play within the different semifinal.
