WNBA: Carrington, Solar spoil Clark’s debut for Fever

UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT – From the leap, it was clear Caitlin Clark was in for an extended evening.

Connecticut guard DiJonai Carrington, sometimes assigned to protect the opposing group’s finest guard, face-guarded Clark all the way in which up the ground. Her efforts helped the Connecticut Solar to a 92-71 opening evening victory over the Indiana Fever.

Carrington, a fourth-year WNBA veteran, mentioned the day earlier than that she was going to be bodily with Clark and ensure she forces her into uncomfortable photographs. “She’s going to attain,” Carrington mentioned. “She’s a extremely good participant, she’s going to get into her spots a few occasions, however now we have to restrict her. The primary shot that she will get can’t be a wide-open 3.”

The defensive plan labored. Carrington and the Solar, house owners of the league’s second-ranked protection final 12 months, restricted Clark to twenty factors on 5-for-15 taking pictures to associate with a franchise-record 10 turnovers. “That’s what Nai does,” head coach Stephanie White mentioned of Carrington’s lockdown efforts. “She’s an elite defender. The problem is now doing this for longer durations of time.”

Carrington, who averaged 17.2 minutes per sport in three years with the Solar, performed 31 minutes on opening evening—and certain would have performed much more if it weren’t for her struggling calf cramps within the third quarter and lacking a while. “The expansion from her to have the ability to come into the beginning lineup, be capable of perceive that expectation and be capable of do it persistently is the problem and she or he did that right here tonight,” White mentioned. “This was the 1st step for her and she or he’s going to have that problem each evening on the opponent’s finest perimeter participant.”

However it wasn’t simply Carrington who performed a serious position within the win. DeWanna Bonner led the Solar in scoring and completed with 20 factors on 8-for-14 taking pictures and 6 rebounds. She additionally turned the fifth-leading scorer in WNBA historical past on Tuesday evening.

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“It was enormous, it was a aim of mine,” mentioned Bonner. “To do it right here, on this evening, with this group, this group, with this crowd, our followers made it much more particular and I want my infants might have been right here. To be on this league it’s exhausting, to remain on this league it’s even tougher. To be a part of that listing is wonderful.”

Alyssa Thomas, in the meantime, added a thirteenth profession triple-double to her resume, additional extending her lead because the proprietor of probably the most triple-doubles in league historical past. Thomas completed with 13 factors on 4-for-8 taking pictures, 13 assists, 10 rebounds and three steals. She famous after the sport that she was partially motivated by the will to point out the world the numbers she was placing up final 12 months could possibly be repeated; Thomas averaged 16.5 factors, 9.9 rebounds, and seven.9 assists in 2023.

“I feel folks thought it was a fluke to place up these sorts of numbers (final 12 months),” Thomas mentioned. “(It was) one thing that was by no means seen earlier than. It was unparalleled. However that is my sport. That is how I play every and ever evening. Just about each sport final season, I flirted with a triple-double.

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“A number of credit score goes to my teammates, they make it straightforward for me. They hit the photographs—I simply put it the place it must go. As a lot because it’s about me, it’s about them, as a result of none of it’s potential with out them.”

Thrust into the beginning lineup for the primary time as a Solar, Tyasha Harris put up 16 factors on 4-for-6 taking pictures from past the arc, whereas Rachel Banham added 10 factors off the bench. Brionna Jones, who missed most of final 12 months with an Achilles rupture, returned from harm and scored eight factors in 19 minutes whereas serving to maintain the Fever’s Aliyah Boston to simply 4 factors and 4 turnovers. “We definitely missed her,” White mentioned of Jones. “Put a smile on my face to see her on the market once more.”

Caitlin Clark doubtless will fare higher as she will get extra snug as knowledgeable basketball participant and will get extra acquainted with the league’s physicality. She’s additionally won’t be dealing with one of many league’s most elite defenses—and defenders—each single evening. However the Connecticut Solar despatched a reminder on Tuesday evening that regardless of typically being missed, they proceed to be a drive to be reckoned with.