Rookie Sensation's Rollercoaster Ride

Caitlin Clark, the standout rookie, had a tough debut in the playoffs, sporting a black eye after an accidental collision during her team's loss to the Connecticut Sun. She struggled to find her rhythm, missing 10 of her first 11 shots before finishing with 11 points and eight assists. The Sun's Alyssa Thompson shone bright, notching a triple-double with 12 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds. Clark took personal responsibility for the loss, refusing to use the injury that left her bruised as an excuse. She admitted that she felt like she got good shots, but they just didn't go down. The young guard was visibly frustrated, smacking a chair on the bench during a timeout, but she managed to find her groove towards the end of the third quarter. Despite her efforts, the Fever couldn't recover from the Sun's hot shooting, particularly Marina Mabrey's 27 points. Clark finished the game shooting 4 for 17 from the field, missing 11 of her 13 three-point attempts. She expressed her frustration, saying that it's tough as a shooter when shots won't go down. The Sun's defense also played a key role, with DeWanna Bonner drawing the assignment against Clark for much of the night. Clark will get another chance to redeem herself in Game 2, hoping to send the series back to Indiana for a decisive third game on Friday. Meanwhile, other playoff games saw impressive performances from Leonie Fiebich, Breanna Stewart, and Napheesa Collier.