Clark’s 20 Points Propel Fever to Commissioner’s Cup over Sun

18 Jun at 11:00 am

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Clark’s 20 Points Propel Fever to Commissioner’s Cup over Sun/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Caitlin Clark scored 20 points with six assists and knocked down four 3‑pointers as the Indiana Fever defeated the Connecticut Sun 88‑71 on Tuesday night. The game got physical late, resulting in three player ejections. With this win and an Atlanta loss, the Fever have secured a Commissioner’s Cup spot.

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) and Connecticut Sun guard Jacy Sheldon (4) scuffle in the second half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Quick Look

Key Player Performance: Clark leads with 20 points, six assists, and four 3-pointers.
Late-Game Hostilities: Jacy Sheldon’s steal and hard foul escalate into ejections.
Commissioner’s Cup Clinched: Fever earn coveted Cup spot with season tiebreaker victory.

Connecticut Sun guard Marina Mabrey (3) drives on Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (0) in the first half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Clark’s 20 Points Propel Fever to Commissioner’s Cup over Sun

Deep Look

Game Flow and Strategy

The Fever jumped out to a 47‑39 halftime lead, riding on Clark’s explosive third 3-pointer. Their defense clamped down hard afterward: Connecticut didn’t hit another field goal from late in the second until 2:49 left in the fourth.
Indiana’s defensive intensity—highlighted by Natasha Howard’s 12 rebounds and lockdown presence—forced Connecticut into rushed shots and turnovers, shifting momentum firmly to the Fever.

Physicality, Confrontations, and Discipline

The tension boiled over late in the fourth after Sheldon stole the ball and was taken down hard by Cunningham, igniting a post-foul skirmish that saw three ejections: Cunningham, Sheldon, and Lindsay Allen.
Earlier in the third quarter, Sheldon poked Clark in the eye, followed by Marina Mabrey shoving Clark to the floor, prompting three simultaneous technical fouls and giving Clark three free throws to extend Indiana’s lead to 58‑45.

Key Player Contributions

Caitlin Clark (20 pts, 6 ast, 4 3s) set the tone early, especially in the first half, giving Indiana sharp perimeter offense.
Kelsey Mitchell chipped in 17 points, offering scoring consistency, while Natasha Howard’s double-double provided inside muscle and rebounding.
Damiris Dantas posted a season-high 13 points, adding depth to Indiana’s bench production.
On the Sun’s side, Tina Charles (20 points) stood out as a lone consistent scoring threat; Olivia Nelson-Ododa (14) and Jaelyn Brown (13) helped keep Connecticut competitive early, but their efforts dwindled as Indiana adjusted.

Commissioner’s Cup Context

With this victory, the Fever improved to 4‑1 in Cup play, securing one of the limited Commissioner’s Cup spots. Their head-to-head tiebreaker over the Liberty comes from a convincing 102‑88 win last Saturday.
Moving forward, Indiana can focus on momentum-building for Cup and playoff positioning, while Connecticut (2‑9) must regroup and manage internal dynamics after another bruising, emotional loss.