Considering Connecticut’s recent dominance over Indiana, a visit from the Fever might be just what the Sun need to rebound from their first 2024 defeat.
The Sun look for an 11th straight victory over the Fever, and third this season, Monday night at Uncasville, Conn.
Connecticut’s franchise-best start ended with Saturday’s 82-75 home loss to New York. The Sun (9-1) shot 40.8 percent but still led by five early in the fourth quarter. However, New York outscored the hosts 25-13 over the final 8:30 to prevail.
“I don’t think we were under any impression that we were going to go through the season undefeated,” Sun coach Stephanie White said. “We hit some adversity, OK, so we’ve got to continue to be better. … Be better for Indiana.”
Connecticut has been very good against the Fever while winning the last 10 meetings dating to July 2021.
The Sun opened this season with a 92-71 victory over visiting Indiana (3-9) in Caitlin Clark’s WNBA debut. Things were a little tougher for Connecticut on May 20 at Indianapolis, but it pulled out an 88-84 win.
Sun star Alyssa Thomas posted a triple-double in the opener and has totaled 37 points, 24 rebounds and 22 assists in the two 2024 matchups with the Fever. Teammate DeWanna Bonner contributed a combined 42 points in those meetings for Connecticut.
Clark has 42 points against Connecticut this season, but also 18 turnovers in the two contests.
Clark tied a WNBA rookie record with seven made 3-pointers — on 13 attempts — and scored 30 for the second time this season as the Fever won for the second time in three games, 85-83 at Washington on Friday.
“It felt good to shoot the ball well,” said Clark, who is making just 37.3 percent of her overall shots and 32.7 percent from beyond the arc.
“As a shooter, once you see one or two go in, the basket just looks bigger and bigger.”
