Caitlin Clark's first career WNBA playoff game was far from what she probably expected.
The Indiana Fever rookie took a poke in the eye from Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington in the first quarter, and it was just the beginning of a rough day.
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September 22, 2024; Uncasville, Connecticut, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts to a foul in the first quarter during game one of the first round of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs at Mohegan Sun Arena. (Images by Mark Smith-Imagn)
Clark scored 11 points and made 2 of 13 3-point shots in 36 minutes as Indiana lost the game 93-69.
“Obviously, it hit me in the eye; I don't think it affected me, honestly,” Clark told reporters after the game. “I felt like I made some good shots, but they didn't go in. Obviously, it was a tough time for that to happen, but I had some pretty good opportunities. I had three pretty open threes in the first half, which is what you normally do, so I felt like I was going to be able to get some shots off.” [I] I fought and tried my best.
MARINA MABREY'S HISTORIC SHOOTING NIGHT RAISES THE SUN OVER THE FEVER IN THE PLAYOFF GAME
September 22, 2024; Uncasville, Connecticut, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) warms up before Game 1 of the first round of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs at Mohegan Sun Arena. (Images by Mark Smith-Imagn)
“We were in the right spot. I felt like we played a terrible game. The pace of the game was really bad.”
He played the rest of the match with a black eye.
Clark was named the AP's WNBA Rookie of the Year earlier in the day, but her shooting performance underscored the struggles of the entire team.
Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever looks on during the game against the Connecticut Sun during the first round of Game 1 of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs on September 22, 2024, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
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The Fever made 6 of 28 three-point shots and shot 40.3 percent overall from the field. Kelsey Mitchell led the way with 21 points for the Fever. Aliyah Boston scored 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
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