Tuesday night's WNBA season opener at Mohegan Sun Arena between the Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun was supposed to be the Caitlin Clark show, but Alyssa Thomas and the Sun had other plans. The veteran Sun team frustrated Clark throughout the night, securing a 92-71 win while Thomas and DeWanna Bonner achieved significant milestones.
Thomas, known for her versatility, continued to demonstrate why she's one of the league’s most dynamic players. She finished the game with 13 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists, marking her ninth career triple-double. The feat extends her record for the most triple-doubles in WNBA history, including the postseason.
DeWanna Bonner also had a standout night, contributing 20 points to the Sun’s victory and grabbing six rebounds in 28 minutes. In doing so, Bonner moved into fifth place on the WNBA’s all-time scoring list, surpassing her ex-wife Candice Dupree. With 6,901 career points, Bonner now trails only Diana Taurasi, Tina Thompson, Tamika Catchings and Tina Charles, per Jack Maloney of CBS Sports. She is 214 points behind Charles. Her milestone basket came in the third quarter during a fast break, solidifying her place among the league's scoring elite. Bonner’s ability to score consistently continues to make her a crucial player for the Sun, even in her 15th season.
Connecticut Sun gives rough WNBA welcome to Caitlin Clark
Clark’s debut, meanwhile, was a tale of two halves. She struggled early, missing her first three shots and committing two fouls within the first five minutes. Hounded by Sun defender DiJonai Carrington and facing double teams, Clark found it difficult to adjust to the physical and athletic defensive schemes of the Sun. Despite these challenges, she managed to settle down in the second half, finishing with a team-high 20 points. However, her 10 turnovers set a new WNBA record for the most in a debut and were the most in Fever franchise history.
Clark’s struggles were a stark contrast to her preseason performances, where she showed promise and potential. In a preseason game against the Dallas Wings, she scored 21 points and hit five three-pointers, giving fans a glimpse of her record-breaking college performances. She followed that with a solid outing against the Atlanta Dream, scoring 12 points, grabbing eight rebounds and dishing out six assists despite turnovers and shooting inefficiencies. However, the regular season opener against a top-tier defensive team like the Sun provided a much tougher test, highlighting areas for growth and adjustment.
Indiana, as a team, struggled to find their rhythm. They recorded 18 turnovers and shot only 40% from the field. Despite staying within striking distance for parts of the game, their offensive struggles and the Sun's defensive pressure proved too much to overcome. Fever coach Christie Sides rotated her bench early, trying to find a lineup that could contend with the Sun's depth and experience.
The Sun will face the Washington Mystics on Friday, again at home, while Clark and the Fever will make their regular-season home debut in Indianapolis Thursday against the New York Liberty.
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