Much of the attention in Game 1 of the WNBA's first-round playoff series between the Indiana Fever and the Connecticut Sun was focused on two incidents involving Caitlin Clark and DiJonai Carrington .
There have been physical altercations between the Suns and Fever in previous games, and Sunday's game was no exception, with the two seemingly casually making eye contact with each other. Clark was hit near his right eye by Carrington in the first quarter, and then in the fourth, Clark retaliated and accidentally knocked away Carrington's contact.
It was a frustrating day for Clark, who scored just 11 points in 36 minutes in a 93-69 loss to the Suns. The unanimous AP WNBA Rookie of the Year's dissatisfaction with her performance came to light in the third quarter, when she angrily slapped a chair on the bench.
“We didn't play well, we didn't play to the level we were capable of playing,” Clark said. “We didn't shoot the ball like we're capable of. We're capable of winning this game.
and communication with Carrington, Clark says: “Brightened my eyes. I honestly don't think it affected me. I felt like my shot was good, it just wasn't falling. Obviously, it's a tough time.
No, Clark won't blame her poor playoff debut on her opponent's tough defense.
Furthermore, if Clark were to hold Carrington accountable for why she shot 4-of-17 from the field and 2-of-13 from 3-point range, she would have chosen the wrong Connecticut player to take the blame.
The player who guarded Clark and gave her great difficulty for much of the game was 37-year-old DeWanna Bonner, who combines two things Clark doesn't have – experience and Height – Giving the rookie star his first playoff game is an absolute nightmare.
In the first half, when Bonner was guarding Clark, Clark went 0-for-3 from the field. When ESPN's Holly Rowe relayed this stat to Bonner during an on-court interview, she had a fitting and memorable reaction.
“Let me knock on some wood real quick,” Bonner said, laughing as he bent down and tapped the court. “Because she is a great player. I knew she would be ready in the second half, so I had to step in.
However, Clark's performance in the second half was not that good, making 3 of 8 shots and making two turnovers. Bonner's play is a big reason why.
The Auburn product has been underrated for most of her career, making just one WNBA All-Defensive team selection — the 2015 Second Team. Set a career high of 2.5, ranking fifth in the WNBA. Her 92.6 defensive rating is the second-highest of her 15-year career and ranks 11th in the league this season.
The one thing about Bonner's defense that hasn't been underestimated during her career is how versatile and savvy she is. She's guarded a variety of players, from chopping wings to bruising centers to sharpshooting guards. Clark is just her latest victim.
The 6-foot-4 Bonner made a great block on Clark as he drove to the basket in the second quarter. In the game, she scored 22 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks. Alyssa Thomas had a triple-double for the Suns in the win, but if there's a Game 1 MVP, that honor should go to Bonner.
Connecticut surprised many by having Bonner linebacker Clark. In the Suns' previous four games against the Fever, Carrington had the task for most of the game. But when the Fever ended up beating the Suns 84-80 in the final game, with Clark finishing with 19 points and five assists, Connecticut knew they had to try another strategy.
“They beat us last time, so we have to do something different,” Bonner said. “There's nothing behind it. They have two good defenders so someone has to step up and defend and that's the only way to beat them, so I accepted the challenge. She's a great player. I know the next game She will perform well.
In fact, that's the task now facing Bonner and the Suns: Can they silence Clark again to win the series?
We'll find out Wednesday night.