UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Caitlin Clark was again at Mohegan Solar Enviornment on Sunday to make her WNBA playoff debut in opposition to the Connecticut Solar.
Her first recreation within the league got here on the similar venue and Clark joked previous to the postseason contest she wished to overlook all about that poor exhibiting. The celebrity guard seemingly will not need to keep in mind a lot from her playoff opener, both.
Clark by no means discovered her rhythm in opposition to one of many prime defenses within the league and shot 4-for-17 from the sphere and 2-for-13 from 3-point vary to complete with 11 factors because the Solar ran away within the second half for a 93-69 win in Recreation 1 of the first-round playoff sequence. It was Clark’s lowest scoring output in a recreation the place she noticed common minutes since June 13. She additionally contributed eight assists, 4 rebounds and 4 steals.
Clark definitely was annoyed by her lack of ability to supply a a lot higher impression within the recreation. Shortly after lacking her eighth straight 3-pointer to start the sport, Clark slammed her hand a few occasions on the bench throughout an Indiana timeout.
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The outburst from Clark appeared to get her going a little bit bit, although. She drilled her subsequent two 3-point makes an attempt sandwiched round a layup.
However Clark was largely ineffective for the competition. She could not discover her long-range capturing stroke and Indiana’s offense struggled due to it. Clark tallied simply three factors on 1-for-9 capturing from the sphere within the first half, together with getting swatted by Solar ahead DeWanna Bonner with a lower than a minute left within the second quarter. Clark had an opportunity to enter the intermission on a optimistic word, however missed a large open 3-pointer.
Connecticut’s protection will get some credit score for Clark’s capturing woes. DiJonai Carrington, Bonner and Alyssa Thomas routinely pressured Clark to forestall straightforward drives to the basket and challenged her bounce pictures.
The Solar additionally have been bodily with Clark because the 6-foot guard took an inadvertent shot from Carrington 90 seconds into the sport. Clark went down and was checked out by Indiana’s coaching workers, however did not miss any recreation motion.
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Clark, in determined want of a bounce-back efficiency, will attempt preserve the Fever’s season alive once they face the Solar in Recreation 2 of the best-of-3 sequence on Wednesday. Tipoff from Mohegan Solar Enviornment is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
