Connecticut would be the heart of the basketball world when the Connecticut Solar takes on the Indiana Fever at dwelling on Sunday within the first spherical of the WNBA playoffs. It’s a best-of-three sequence.
And the beginning of the playoffs is trying like the beginning of the season.
Caitlin Clark made her WNBA debut right here in Connecticut when the Solar and Fever battled it out on the courtroom at Mohegan Solar.
The world was full of Solar followers and the various who made a particular journey to Connecticut simply to be there in individual for Clark’s first recreation.
The Solar gained the sport, 92-71.
Final season, as a school participant, Clark set the NCAA all-time scoring file at Iowa and he or she was a giant purpose why a file 18.9 million viewers tuned in to the nationwide championship recreation, which her Hawkeyes misplaced to unbeaten South Carolina.
And her WNBA debut in Might set a viewership file for ESPN when greater than 2 million viewers tuned in, breaking ESPN’s earlier file of almost 1.5 million viewers for a Phoenix Mercury-Connecticut Solar recreation on Might 22, 2004, in Diana Taurasi’s rookie season.
And Clark has had fairly a season. In August, she set a brand new WNBA rookie three-point file and the large numbers of people who find themselves watching her video games have made headlines.
Caitlin Clark left an enduring legacy on girls’s faculty basketball, however as she enters the WNBA, how will she transition and make an affect on the subsequent stage? Khristina Williams, founding father of “Ladies Discuss Sports activities TV ,” and Phoenix Mercury guard Sophie Cunningham weigh in.
All eyes will probably be on Clark as she makes her postseason debut. The Fever struggled early within the season with a tough schedule, however have actually come on sturdy after the Olympic break.
Whereas Clark certainly has star energy, the Solar are a power on the courtroom.
Connecticut has been to eight straight postseasons — the longest lively streak.
The Solar (28-12) defeated the Chicago Sky on Thursday evening, 87 to 54, setting a brand new franchise file for many wins in a single common season they usually enter the playoffs because the quantity 3 seed.
The Fever misplaced to the Washington Mystics, 91 to 92, on Thursday evening to complete the season, 20-20. That is the primary time the Fever, the sixth seed, will probably be within the playoffs since 2016.
Season Sequence: The Solar gained three of the 4 conferences, however the Fever took the final one. The three Connecticut wins all got here throughout the first month of the season.
Main Storylines: Clark has all the time thrived on the largest stage and is prepared for her playoff debut. For the Fever to succeed, they’re going to want different gamers to step up and assist her. Clark averaged 16.3 factors and three.8 rebounds within the 4 conferences. The Solar wish to get again to the WNBA Finals for the primary time since 2022.
The Solar will tackle the Fever at Mohegan Solar Area at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 22.
When are the Connecticut Solar vs. Indiana Fever video games
Sport 1: Indiana at Connecticut, Sunday, Sept. 22 at 3 p.m.
Sport 2: Indiana at Connecticut, Wednesday, Sept. 25 at 7:30 p.m.
Sport 3: If needed, Connecticut at Indiana, Friday, Sept. 27. The time is to be decided.
The place are the video games
Video games one and two are at Mohegan Solar Area.
It’s positioned at 1 Mohegan Solar Boulevard, Uncasville, CT 06382
How do I get there
You will discover instructions right here.
Are tickets to the Connecticut Solar vs. Indiana Fever obtainable
Tickets for recreation one are nonetheless obtainable and the Ticketmaster web site exhibits costs begin at round $112 whereas some resale tickets are listed within the 1000’s.