WNBA Playoffs 2024 Day 1 recap: Caitlin Clark, Fever get reality check from Sun

Super rookie Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever got a rude welcome in her first-ever playoff game.

After a historic rookie season, Clark came into Sunday excited for her first taste of high-stakes basketball. However, Alyssa Thomas and the Connecticut Sun came ready to play.

The third-seeded Sun blew out the sixth-seeded Fever, 93-69, to take a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three series. Thomas had a triple-double for Connecticut, dropping 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 13 assists while veteran DeWanna Bonner scored 22 points while playing outstanding defense on the aforementioned Clark.

Clark struggled from the field, going only 4-17 including 2-13 from three as she saw the entire Connecticut defense turned on against her. Kelsey Mitchell scored 21 while Aliyah Boston added 17 but it was not enough as the Fever got blown out by 24 points.

In the other games of the day, the New York Liberty began their quest for a back-to-back Finals appearance with a comfortable 83-69 win over the Atlanta Dream. Leonie Fiebich led all scorers with 21 points while former WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart added 20.

The defending champions Las Vegas Aces started their title defense after winning wire-to-wire against the Seattle Storm, 78-67. Recently crowned unanimous WNBA MVP A’Ja Wilson had 21 points in the win.

Finally, MVP runner-up Napheesa Collier starred for the Minnesota Lynx in their Game 1 win over the Phoenix Mercury. Collier had the best game of the day with 38 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists as they won by seven, 102-95.