Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever Advance to 2024 Commissioner’s Cup Final After Intense Win Over Sun
The Indiana Fever, led by rising WNBA star Caitlin Clark, secured a place in the 2024 Commissioner’s Cup Final after defeating the Connecticut Sun 88–71 on Tuesday in a fiery, physical contest in Indianapolis. Clark delivered another all-around performance with 20 points, 6 assists, and 4 three-pointers, continuing her rookie-season dominance.
🔥 Physical Game Ends in Ejections
Tensions reached a boiling point in the final minute of the game. A hard foul by Indiana’s Sophie Cunningham on Jacy Sheldon sparked a shoving match that resulted in three player ejections — Cunningham, Sheldon, and Lindsay Allen — with just 46.1 seconds remaining.
Earlier, Clark was poked in the eye by Sheldon, followed by a late shove from Marina Mabrey. The incident led to three technical fouls, and Clark hit all three resulting free throws to extend the Fever’s lead to 58–45.
🏆 Fever Clinch Commissioner’s Cup Spot with 4–1 Record
Indiana’s win, along with Atlanta’s loss to New York, secured their spot in the Commissioner’s Cup championship game. The Fever finished 4–1 in Cup play, holding the tiebreaker over New York thanks to their 102–88 win on Saturday.
⭐ Key Performers for the Indiana Fever
- Caitlin Clark: 20 points, 6 assists, 4 3-pointers
- Kelsey Mitchell: 17 points
- Natasha Howard: 16 points, 12 rebounds (50th career double-double)
- Damiris Dantas: Season-high 13 points
The win pushed the Fever’s overall record to 6–5, moving them above .500 for the first time since early in the season.
☀️ Connecticut Sun Struggles Continue
Despite a strong showing from veteran Tina Charles with 20 points, the Sun dropped to 2–9. Other key contributors included:
- Olivia Nelson-Ododa: 14 points
- Jaelyn Brown: 13 points
Connecticut was within reach early in the third quarter but couldn’t recover after a long field-goal drought, allowing Indiana to pull away.
🤕 WNBA Update: A’ja Wilson Out for Third Straight Game
In other WNBA news, Aces MVP A’ja Wilson remains in concussion protocol and will miss her third straight game Tuesday night against the Minnesota Lynx.
Wilson was injured last Wednesday against the Sparks and has not returned since. She continues to lead the team in scoring (20.9 PPG), rebounds (9.6 RPG), assists (4.0 APG), and blocks (2.6 BPG).
🏀 Aces’ Struggles Without Wilson
- Record without Wilson: 1–2
- Offensive leaders stepping up: Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Jewell Loyd (all averaging over 16 PPG)
The Aces are currently 5–5 and looking to regain momentum as they prepare to face Seattle Storm on Friday.
📅 What’s Next for the Indiana Fever?
The Fever will now prepare for the Commissioner’s Cup Final, hoping to ride their recent success — and Clark’s hot streak — to their first major title since entering the WNBA in 2000.
Stay tuned for match details, opponent announcements, and ticket updates as the Fever continue their impressive 2024 campaign.
📌 FAQs
Q: How many points did Caitlin Clark score vs. Connecticut Sun?
A: Clark scored 20 points with 6 assists and 4 three-pointers.
Q: Why were players ejected in the Fever vs. Sun game?
A: A hard foul led to a physical altercation, resulting in the ejections of Cunningham, Sheldon, and Allen.
Q: Has Indiana qualified for the Commissioner’s Cup Final?
A: Yes, Indiana clinched a spot with a 4–1 Cup record.
Q: When will A’ja Wilson return to the Aces?
A: Wilson is in concussion protocol; her return is pending medical clearance.
