How did Caitlin Clark's Fever lose to Sun? Alyssa Thomas, Marina Mabrey send Connecticut to WNBA semifinals

Kyle Irving

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How did Caitlin Clark's Fever lose to Sun? Alyssa Thomas, Marina Mabrey send Connecticut to WNBA semifinals image

Caitlin Clark's historic WNBA rookie season is over.

The Fever went into Game 2 of the first round against the Sun facing a win-or-go-home scenario. Indiana came out firing in the first quarter but couldn't hold off Connecticut for long, falling 87-81 in a back-and-forth battle.

Clark did everything she could to keep the Fever's title hopes alive, going for 25 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Aliyah Boston chipped in a 16-point, 19-rebound double-double and Kelsey Mitchell had 17 points on 18 shots but the Sun's veteran-laden squad had an answer in every big moment.

Alyssa Thomas was the catalyst for Connecticut with 19 points, 13 assists and five rebounds, while DeWanna Bonner and DiJonai Carrington hounded Clark to an inefficient 10-for-23 (3-12 3PT) shooting night.

Marina Mabrey had 17 points and delivered the dagger late in the fourth quarter, knocking down a clutch 3-pointer to continue to validate why Connecticut brought her in at the trade deadline.

Relive some of the biggest moments from the Sun's Game 2 win over the Fever below.

MORE: What's next for Caitlin Clark after historic rookie season in Indiana

Highlights from Sun's win over Caitlin Clark's Fever

Alyssa Thomas' greatness

Thomas was not going to let the Sun leave Connecticut without a win.

The WNBA MVP candidate led by example the entire night, firing up her team when they needed energy and showing poise when the stakes were at their highest. She poured in 10 of her 19 points in the third quarter alone, keeping the Sun in front despite several comeback pushes from the Fever.

The WNBA's all-time playoff triple-double leader didn't have the boards to achieve her signature feat, but she tallied a game-high 13 assists to go with some timely buckets.

Thomas had a tough and-one early in the fourth quarter that made Indiana's slight deficit seem insurmountable...

...but Clark still gave the Fever a fighting chance, anyway.

Caitlin Clark's clutch go-ahead 3-pointer

Just when it seemed like Thomas' and-one swung the momentum in Connecticut's favor, Indiana responded with a counterpunch.

Clark came up with a steal and hit Mitchell for a transition layup, then hit a stepback midrange jumper. Temi Fagbenle knocked down a massive 3-pointer (only the fourth of her WNBA career!), and then Clark hit the biggest shot of the game at that point.

The star rookie gave the Fever their first lead since the first quarter on a smooth pull-up triple as she was being chased by two Sun defenders. The make capped off an 8-0 run to put Indiana in front, 71-70, with four minutes to play.

MORE: The next steps for Fever to build contender around Caitlin Clark

DeWanna Bonner steps up in fourth quarter

Bonner's defense on Clark set the tone in Games 1 and 2, but her offense helped Connecticut seal the win.

A layup from Boston put Indiana back in front by two with under three minutes to play but Bonner answered right back with an easy two to tie the game. The Fever went right back to Boston for another layup to take a two-point lead with two minutes to go, but this time, Bonner countered with a gut-punch of a go-ahead 3-pointer.

On the ensuing possession, Mitchell missed an open 3-pointer and chased down her own rebound but surprisingly chose not to go up with the putback.

Instead, she threw the ball into no-man's-land and Bonner picked it off, eventually setting up the shot that would end the Fever's season.

Marina Mabrey's 3-point shooting ends Fever's season

Leading by one with just under a minute to go, the Sun patiently worked the ball around the perimeter after the steal. A defensive lapse between Clark and Mitchell left Mabrey wide open on the wing and the sharpshooter delivered.

Mabrey buried a game-deciding 3-pointer to give Connecticut a four-point lead with 46 seconds remaining.

The Sun's trade deadline acquisition immediately paid dividends in the playoffs. Mabrey had 27 points and five 3s in Game 1, then added 17 points and three 3s in Game 2 — two of which came in high-pressure spots in the fourth quarter.

Next up, the Sun will take on the winner of the Lynx and Mercury in the WNBA Semifinals.

Kyle Irving

Kyle Irving Photo

You read that wrong – not Kyrie Irving. From Boston, graduated from the University of New Hampshire. Sixth season as a content producer for NBA.com's Global editions. Covering the NBA Draft has become his annual "dream come true" moment on the job. Irving has a soft spot for pass-first point guards, with Rajon Rondo and Steve Nash being two of his favorite players of all time.