NBA postseason: Caitlin Clark and Indiana Fever are eliminated in the initial phase, Diana Taurasi might play her final match ever
The postseason's initial phase wrapped up on a Wednesday, with the Connecticut Sun and Minnesota Lynx securing their places in the semifinals.
Here's a rundown of the teams advancing and those bidding farewell.
Sun overwhelm Fever, ending Clark's exceptional freshman year
The Fever's No. 6 team received a tough blow from the Sun in Game 2 of their best-of-three series, with a 87-81 defeat marking the end of Caitlin Clark's remarkable debut season. The third-seeded Sun sealed the sweep.
Clark, who was unanimously chosen as the AP WNBA Rookie of the Year on the previous Sunday, led all contributors with 25 points. She also contributed nine assists and six rebounds. Clark is now the first rookie in league history to score at least 25 points, produce five assists, and tally five rebounds in a playoff game. She also became the youngest player in history to accomplish this feats.
“It’s been a good taste of what’s possible for this organization and this franchise,” Clark told reporters following the game. The team had only achieved five victories in the previous two years. This young, inexperienced squad came together and had fun competing against each other. I’m proud of this team. We were resilient all season and had a great time working together.”
In the wake of her senior year title loss at Iowa to South Carolina in the national championship game, Clark had only a month to prepare for her WNBA debut.
“Taking some time to myself and reflecting on this journey will be beneficial,” she stated. “My college career ended quickly, so I didn’t have the chance to truly reflect on it. When I came here, I gave everything I had to this team and moved on, leaving that behind. I’m looking forward to taking some time off and reflecting on it."
Aliyah Boston, 2023 Rookie of the Year for the Fever, scored a strong double-double with 16 points and 19 rebounds, putting the team ahead by 77-75 with less than two minutes remaining in the match.
However, Boston was quickly countered by DeWanna Bonner, playing in her record-breaking 82nd postseason game, who made a three to kick off a 12-4 Connecticut streak and secure the series victory.
Alyssa Thomas led the charge for the third-seeded Sun, scoring 19 points and dishing out 13 assists, with four other Sun players scoring in double digits.
The Sun have reached the semifinals for the sixth consecutive year, though they are yet to win the WNBA title.
Taurasi may have played her final game as Lynx advance past Mercury
The No. 2 seed Lynx ousted the No. 7 Mercury 101-88 in a 2-0 sweep, raising speculation about Diana Taurasi's potential retirement.
Taurasi finished with 10 points, four rebounds, and three assists before being issued a technical foul and being forced to leave the game. She received an ovation from the Target Center as she exited the court.
Taurasi was selected first overall by the Mercury in the 2004 draft and has spent her entire WNBA career with the team. She is a former MVP, three-time championship winner, five-time EuroLeague champion, six-time Olympic champion, eleven-time All-Star, and is widely regarded as one of women's basketball's greatest players.
Though she has not confirmed her retirement, her emotional farewell speech to the Phoenix fans in their final regular season game sparked rumors.
“I want to thank every player, every coach, everyone who has ever worn a WNBA jersey,” Taurasi said in her address. “It takes a village, and our league is about uplifting each other. And to see where we are now, 28 years later, for the ones who played before, this league is what it is now. We are thankful for you all, and we are thankful for the next generation.”
Brittney Griner led the Mercury in scoring with 24 points, while Natasha Cloud and Kahleah Copper contributed 16 and 13 points, respectively.
Collier was outstanding for the Lynx, orchestrating their advancement. She equaled the WNBA playoff game scoring record with 42 points, shooting 70% from the field, and adding five rebounds, four assists, and two blocks. She has amassed 80 points over her two matches against the Mercury, the most during any two-game series in WNBA postseason history, per the league.
Minnesota is aiming for its fifth WNBA championship. The Lynx-Sun series winner will go on to face either the defending champion Las Vegas Aces or the New York Liberty in the 2024 WNBA Finals.
After an intense postseason, the Connecticut Sun and Minnesota Lynx have secured their spots in the semifinals, showcasing their sporting prowess. Caitlin Clark, the AP WNBA Rookie of the Year, had a remarkable debut season in the league, scoring 25 points, providing nine assists, and grabbing six rebounds in a playoff game.
