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This matchup pits one of the league’s best defenses against one of its best offenses.
Caitlin Clark protects Brionna Jones as she slides toward the hoop. Michael Conroy/AP Photo
The Connecticut Sun are hoping to break through after coming close to winning a WNBA championship in recent years.
The Indiana Fever are looking to continue their surprising rise and make a deep playoff run ahead of schedule.
They will meet in the first round of the playoffs, starting with Game 1 on Sunday at 3 p.m. (ABC) in Uncasville, Conn. Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., also in Connecticut, and Game 3 (if necessary) will be Friday in Indianapolis.
Here are three storylines to watch as the No. 3 Sun (28-12) and No. 6 Fever (20-20) face off in what should be a gripping series:
Can the sun go through it?
The Sun lost in the final in 2019, in the semi-finals in 2020 and 2021, in the final again in 2022 and in the semi-final again last year.
They are consistently one of the best teams in the league and have a regular season winning percentage of 181-91 (.666) since 2017.
While many teams rely on two or three top-notch scorers, the Sun are known for their depth and balance.
DeWanna Bonner (15 points per game), Marina Mabrey (14.9), Brionna Jones (13.7), DiJonai Carrington (12.7), Alyssa Thomas (10.6) and Tyasha Harris (10.6) form a dangerous top six. Thomas, who also averages 8.4 points and 7.9 assists, is one of the most complete players in the league and is coming off a gold medal in France.
Former Newton South star Veronica Burton has appeared in 31 games this season and provides energy and drive off the bench.
The Sun have consistently excelled on defense and this year have allowed the fewest points per game in the league at 73.6.
They’re better equipped than most to defend Clark and his teammates, but it certainly won’t be easy.
Can the Sun contain Caitlin Clark and company?
While the Sun have one of the most potent defenses in the league, the Fever counter with one of the most potent offenses in the WNBA.
The Fever are third in points per game (85), first in field goal percentage (45.6) and third in 3-point field goal percentage (38).
After starting the season 9-14 with Clark taking the league’s pulse, the Sun won nine of their last 11 games to get into playoff contention before finishing at .500.
They’ve caught fire offensively in spurts of late, scoring 100 points twice, 104 in early September and then 110 on Sunday against the Dallas Wings.
Clark exceeded expectations, averaging 19.2 points, 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game. She led the league in assists per game and three-pointers made, became the first rookie to record a triple-double and had the most points, assists and three-pointers made by a rookie in history, among other accolades.
The Sun, who took three of the Fever’s four 3-pointers in the regular season, have allowed the fewest 3-pointers in the league this year, at 6.5.
Indiana will need Clark to be effective from three-point range, but her ability to score the ball could be even more important. She has turned the ball over 5.6 times per game this season, so scoring the ball will be imperative against an aggressive opponent that thrives on chaos.
Kelsey Mitchell (19.2 PPG), Worcester Academy product Aliyah Boston (14 PPG, 8.9 rebounds per game) and NaLyssa Smith (10.6 PPG, 7.1 RPG) will be alongside him.
The Fever are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2016 and are aiming for their first championship since 2012.
Will it break WNBA attendance and viewership records?
As Clark continues to break records on the field, she continues to contribute to the growth of the game in terms of ticket sales and overall visibility.
The cheapest ticket for Game 1 on Ticketmaster, as of Saturday at 10:30 a.m., is $112. According to TickPick, it costs more to attend Game 1 than it does to attend all games of the 2023 WNBA Finals combined.
FOX’s Michael Mulvihill reported that viewership for Clark’s games on all rated networks this season has averaged 1.178 million viewers. All other games have averaged 394,000 viewers.
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