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The Indiana Fever visit the Connecticut Sun on Sunday for Game 1 of their first-round playoff series. Caitlin Clark and Co., which clinched the No. 6 seed, will face the third-ranked team in the postseason. The Fever are underdogs but will be raring to show they belong on the same stage as the playoff-hardened Sun.
Connecticut whipped Indiana 92-71 in mid-May to open its 2024 campaign. Roughly four months later, they will be hosting a different team that found its groove after the month-long Olympic break. The Sun are the favorites, but they can’t afford to overlook the confident Fever.
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Caitlin Clark’s playoff debut is the center of attention once the WNBA playoffs open. All eyes will be on the Fever-Sun clash when hostilities open on Sunday.
Indiana Fever vs. Connecticut Sun: Injury Report
Indiana Fever injury report
Kelsey Mitchell gave the Fever and their fans a big scare in the team’s last regular season game on Thursday against the Washington Mystics. She seemed to suffer a leg injury, forcing coach Christie Sides to shut her down.
After Indiana’s practice on Saturday, Mitchell spoke to reporters and told them that she felt “great.” She added that she was held out only for “precautions.” The All-Star guard has been given the green light to play in Game 1.
Connecticut Sun injury report
Tiffany Mitchell has been ruled out due to illness.
Indiana Fever vs. Connecticut Sun: Starting lineups and depth charts
Indiana Fever starting lineup and depth chart
Connecticut Sun starting lineup and depth chart
Indiana Fever vs. Connecticut Sun: Key matchups
Caitlin Clark vs. Dijonai Carrington
Caitlin Clark vs. Dijonai Carrington has to be the matchup basketball fans will look forward to in the Fever-Sun series. Clark is Indiana’s floor general, who makes the offense flow. The Fever sometimes looked unstoppable when Clark gets hot and whips passes to her teammates.
Carrington, meanwhile, has arguably been the WNBA’s best defender against Clark. She is tough, physical and smart without being overly aggressive. Indiana will likely be in trouble if she can put the clamps on the Fever’s rookie sensation.
Alyssa Thomas vs. NaLyssa Smith
Alyssa Thomas, the Connecticut Sun’s best, plays power forward but is the hub of the team’s offense. Thomas’ two-way impact makes the Sun a tough matchup for any team. The Olympic gold medalist is as battle-scarred in the playoffs as any WNBA star. NaLyssa Smith will have her hands full trying to contain the Connecticut star’s impact.
Aliyah Boston vs. Brionna Jones
Aliyah Boston is Fever’s best interior operator. The former No. 1 pick has been playing beautiful music with Caitlin Clark in picks and rolls. If Boston gets going, Clark will have even more chances to cause damage to Connecticut’s defense.
Brionna Jones has arguably been the unsung hero in the Sun’s defense, the stingiest during the regular season. She anchors that defense and will try to prevent Boston from dominating inside for the Indiana Fever.
