Alyssa Thomas, Marina Mabrey spark Sun past Fever in Game 1

UNCASVILLE, Conn. -- On May 14, the Connecticut Sun hosted No. 1 draft pick Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever in their 2024 season opener, comfortably winning by 21 and enjoying a triple-double from star Alyssa Thomas.

Over four months later, Sunday's Game 1 of their first-round playoff series featured similar beats: Connecticut used a big fourth quarter and another Thomas triple-double to take Game 1, 93-69, in what was Clark's WNBA playoff debut and the Fever franchise's first postseason game since 2016.

The result marked the largest playoff loss in Fever history.

The Sun showed why they boast the top defensive rating in the league, holding Clark -- who earlier in the day came in fourth in MVP voting -- to 11 points on 4 for 17 shooting (2 for 13 on 3-pointers). Backcourt mate Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever in scoring with 21 points, but also struggled from the arc (2 for 10).

Clark, who generated more offense than any other player in the league this season, faced a different primary defender than in the regular season series versus the Sun -- the 6-foot-4 DeWanna Bonner. The presumptive rookie of the year winner finished 2-12 on contested shots, including 2-9 when defended by Bonner.

Bonner helped the Sun on both ends, also scoring 22 points and dishing out five assists. Bonner's 16 first-half points led all scorers and allowed Connecticut to go into the locker room with an 46-38 edge.

"It was about having length, it was about giving us versatility in our pick and roll situations, giving a different look," Sun coach Stephanie White said on the decision to put Bonner on Clark. "So much about this game is about comfort, it's about rhythm, it's about timing, it's about all those things and how can you make an adjustment that disrupts some of that."

After shooting 1 for 9 in the first half, Clark, alongside Mitchell and Aliyah Boston, took the court earlier than usual to get some shots up while the arena's halftime performance was still underway. But a few minutes into the third quarter during a timeout, Clark slammed her hand twice on a chair at the Fever bench, frustrated she still couldn't get her shot to fall.

"My shot felt right there," said Clark, who thought she had pretty good looks. "That's why it's so frustrating as a shooter, when it feels so good, but it won't go down for you. That's what sucks about it."

Clark scored eight points after that timeout and helped the Fever get within six but the Sun answered back to keep the score within double digits. Indiana was within striking distance the whole game until the Sun outscored them 25-12 in the fourth.

The Fever finished with a 40.3% clip from the field and converted just 6 of their 28 attempts from 3. The Sun also took advantage of a 50-36 disparity in paint scoring and 18-9 one in fast-break points.

"We were right there, and I felt like we just played a crappy game," Clark said.

Marina Mabrey, Connecticut's midseason trade acquisition, helped the Sun pull away behind 27 points -- the most for a reserve in WNBA postseason history. 20 of her points came in the second half, where she converted 5 of 8 3-point attempts.

"She was huge for us," said White, who's looking to guide the Sun to their first WNBA title. "She's going to continue to be big for us. Certainly the opportunity for us to bring her on was one that we took because we thought she would get us over the hump."

Thomas' triple-double (12 points, 13 assists, 10 rebounds) adds to her WNBA-record total (15 including the postseason) and is her fourth in the playoffs; the rest of the WNBA has two playoff triple-doubles combined.

"I've been waiting all season for playoffs, and this is what you're playing for," Thomas said. "This is just the beginning for us."

"Our team doesn't go without her, honestly," Bonner said of Thomas. "We wouldn't be in this position each and every year. So I think she's just getting started... [playoffs are] her time, every year."

The Sun and Fever will face off in Game 2 on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET. If Indiana forces a winner-takes-all Game 3, it would take place Friday in Indianapolis.