WNBA playoffs: Sun fend off Caitlin Clark, Fever to reach semifinals and end her rookie season

Caitlin Clark's rookie season comes to a close right where it started in Connecticut. This is a young group with a core in Clark and Boston poised to compete for championships in a few years. But it takes losses like this to get there. Expect the Fever to add a vet with deep playoff experience in the offseason, possibly in that 3 or 4 position should they re-sign Mitchell (UFA).

Mitchell goes into a paint of black jerseys and Sun are back at the free throw line. DeWanna Bonner puts two more points on the board and this feels done. Everyone here is on their feet.

Mitchell misses another 3, Sun grab the rebound and Indiana fouls DiJonai Carrington to put her on the line and stop the game. She makes both to push it to a six-point lead for Connecticut.

Two bad turnovers by Indiana. Hull throws it away on an out of bounds play. Mitchell throws it away after snagging her own rebound on a short 3. And Marina Mabrey (who else?) drills the 3 on the other end to push the lead to four with 45.5 seconds on the clock.

It's another monster game for Boston. Clark and Boston are the youngest on this young team and not far removed from clutch March Madness moments. Sun lead, 78-77, with 1:28 to go.

The cheers lingered long after Clark's 3 gave Indiana the 71-70 lead. She led Indiana back with a fadeaway, rebound and hockey assist on Fagbenle 3 (Hull gets the assist). She's up to 25 points, seven assists, six rebounds.

Marina Mabrey answered on the other end with a 3, Fagbenle ties it at 73 off a Boston assist. It's going to be a good final three minutes.

CAITLIN CLARK GIVES INDIANA THE LEAD ON A 3!

Fever have kept it around a seven-point deficit seemingly all of the second half. Dantas and Fagbenle are involved in the offense the last few possessions, but they can't let the ball get stuck. AT (19p/10a/5r) shut down Fagbenle, who had trouble with ball control, repeatedly on a few possessions back and committed a shot clock violation. Indiana's defense needs to get stops to make this up and force Game 3.

Two more buckets for Thomas (16p/10a/5r) and it's a nine-point lead for the Sun with seven players in points.

Clark is up to 20 points, six assists, five rebounds. Boston (12p/17r) and Mitchell (10p) are also in double figures, but Hull is 1-5 from 3-point range and Fagbenle hasn't scored. The only bemch points are two Wheeler free throws.

Alyssa Thomas is up to 12 points, 10 assists, four rebounds for the Sun

Fever quickly tie it at 41, forcing the Sun to take a timeout at 8:19. Lexie Hull 3 on a Clark assist, Clark drive, Boston cut off a Clark assist

Caitlin Clark leads all scorers with 14 points (5-12/2-7). She and Kelsey Mitchell (7 points, 3-8 overall) played all 20 minutes of the first half. Clark looked frustrated at the end of the half that Erica Wheeler was bringing the ball up on quick inbound passes from Boston.

Connecticut has the Fever on the same scoring pace as the first game, which was near a season-low for the Fever. White said pre-game with Mabrey in the starting lineup, they'd have to find her reserve energy elsewhere. That's clearly Veronica Burton, whose eight points are one off Mabrey's team-high nine. She's played 11 minutes.

Erica Wheeler went flying into the camera people in front of the VIP section. Everyone on the Fever went over to see her while she remained on the floor a few minutes after the buzzer sounded. They surrounded her with towels and Sides motioned her players toward the locker room. A few minutes later, Wheeler left through another tunnel.

Hope you're not here for offense. Sun are winning the battle of styles right now and making it ugly. Each team is shooting about 30% overall, 20% from 3. Clark leads all scorers with 10.

In good news for the Fever, their 11 fast break points are already more than all of Game 1 (nine). And they're about tied in paint points after folding there in the first meeting.

Christie Sides said yesterday the Fever first needed to handle the Sun's physicality and that has ... not happened. Early foul trouble messed with the Fever's rotations and chemistry. Fever score back-to-back buckets with Boston back on the floor. Sun lead, 26-20, at 5:52 of the second quarter.

Neither team is shooting the ball well (both are 5-20). Connecticut's defense is getting the job done early; Fever haven't made a bucket since the 4-minute mark when Clark hit her second 3.

Indy challenged that foul call on Mitchell. For the second consecutive game (both times in the first quarter), it was because the refs called the foul on the wrong player. Lexie Hull is charged with the foul, DeWanna Bonner shoots and makes two to give the Sun a 15-14 lead.

Not even out of the first quarter and Aliyah Boston is in foul trouble with two. That's going to hurt. Smith comes in for her. Within a minute, Kelsey Mitchell is called for her second. At this point, the number of players who HAVEN'T chatted with the refs about officiating is quite low.

Christie Sides was in a full convo with the ref at the Fever bench after DiJonai Carrington pokes the ball from Clark in the backcourt. Clark came over to chat. Carrington came over afterward.

A much better start for the Fever. Clark has a quick three points, four rebounds and three assists. Aliyah Boston is putting in work on Bri Jones in the paint with four rebounds and Fagbenle has three. Sun are 1-11 from the field to start.

Some fireworks between DeWanna Bonner and Caitlin Clark early. Clark was calling for a foul on a deep 3 point attempt.

oh, OK, Caitlin Clark is starting this one with a 3. Classic Caitlin unlocked?

Both sides spoke of urgency. Indiana is playing to extend its season. The Sun don't want to take this to Indianapolis for two reasons. First, that place is going to be ROCKING for a Game 3. And if the Sun wrap this up tonight, they'll have a few more rest days before the semifinals begin on Sunday. If No. 2 seed Minnesota wins its series against Phoenix, Connecticut will start on the road.

Game 2 is about to tip off here at Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut. Two major lineup changes:

Fever: Temi Fagbenle is in for NaLyssa Smith. Smith played 8:53 in Game 1 and didn't score (one attempt). Fagbenle also did not score in 12:57 of action, but is one of the few Fever players with playoff experience and is a great running mate with Clark in transition. It's her third start of the season.

Sun: Head coach Stephanie White said pre-game Ty Harris would not be able to go after injuring her leg in Game 1. Marina Mabrey is getting the start. It's her fourth with Connecticut after the midseason trade.