Caitlin Clark scored 20 points with six assists and four 3-pointers as the Indiana Fever defeated the Connecticut Sun 88-71 on Tuesday night, securing their Commissioner’s Cup playoff spot in a physical contest that featured three late ejections.
The victory, combined with Atlanta’s loss to New York, clinched Indiana’s Commissioner’s Cup berth with a 4-1 record. The Fever moved above .500 for the first time since their third game of the season, improving to 6-5 overall.
The game’s physical nature culminated with 46.1 seconds remaining when Connecticut’s Jacy Sheldon was fouled hard by Sophie Cunningham under the basket. A shoving match ensued, resulting in ejections for Cunningham, Sheldon, and Lindsay Allen.
Clark was also involved in an earlier incident during the third quarter. Sheldon poked Clark in the eye, followed by Marina Mabrey shoving Clark to the floor, leading to three technical fouls and three free throws for Clark.
Clark made her first three 3-pointers against Connecticut and scored 12 points in the first half to help build a 47-39 halftime lead. Her fourth 3-pointer extended Indiana’s advantage to 84-64 late in the game.
Kelsey Mitchell contributed 17 points while Natasha Howard recorded 16 points and 12 rebounds for her 50th career double-double. Damiris Dantas added a season-high 13 points for Indiana.
