INDIANAPOLIS — Caitlin Clark shined with 20 points, six assists, and four 3-pointers, leading the Indiana Fever to a dominant 88-71 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday night.
The game, known for its physicality, saw three late ejections, but Indiana’s win secured them a spot in the Commissioner’s Cup.
A Physical Finish with Ejections
The game became heated in the final minute. With 46.1 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Connecticut’s Jacy Sheldon stole the ball and was quickly fouled by Sophie Cunningham.
The foul led to a confrontation between Sheldon and Cunningham, resulting in all three players—Cunningham, Sheldon, and Lindsay Allen—being ejected from the game.
Earlier in the game, Sheldon also found herself at the center of controversy. During the third quarter, she poked Caitlin Clark in the eye and then shoved her to the floor, prompting three technical fouls. As a result, Clark took three free throws and extended Indiana’s lead to 58-45.
The Commissioner’s Cup and Indiana’s Strong Performance
Indiana’s win, paired with an Atlanta loss to New York, earned them a 4-1 record in the Commissioner’s Cup. With this record, the Fever secured their place in the Cup, holding the tiebreaker over the Liberty after their 102-88 win against them on Saturday.
Kelsey Mitchell contributed 17 points, while Natasha Howard added 16 points and 12 rebounds, marking her 50th career double-double. Damiris Dantas also stepped up, scoring a season-high 13 points.
Connecticut’s Struggles
The Sun, now sitting at 2-9, were led by Tina Charles, who scored 20 points. Olivia Nelson-Ododa contributed 14 points, and Jaelyn Brown scored 13. Despite an early fight, Connecticut struggled with shooting accuracy, especially in the second half.
Caitlin Clark’s Impact
Clark, who returned from an injury on Saturday, was key to Indiana’s offensive performance. She had a strong first half, scoring 12 points and hitting her first three 3-pointers, helping Indiana build a 47-39 lead by halftime.
Her fourth 3-pointer in the second half extended Indiana’s lead to 84-64, pushing them firmly ahead for the win.
Key Stats:
- Indiana Fever:
- Caitlin Clark: 20 points, 6 assists, 4 3-pointers
- Kelsey Mitchell: 17 points
- Natasha Howard: 16 points, 12 rebounds
- Damiris Dantas: 13 points
- Connecticut Sun:
- Tina Charles: 20 points
- Olivia Nelson-Ododa: 14 points
- Jaelyn Brown: 13 points
With this win, the Fever continue to build momentum as they move forward in the season and secure their spot in the Commissioner’s Cup.
