The first postseason game of Caitlin Clark's WNBA career probably wasn't quite what she expected.
The Indiana Fever rookie was hit in the eye by Connecticut Suns guard DiJonai Carrington in the first quarter, but that was just the beginning of a tough day.
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Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts to a foul during the first quarter of Game 1 of the first round of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs at Mohegan Sun Arena on September 22, 2024 in Uncasville, Connecticut, USA. (Mark Smith-Imagn Images)
Clark finished with 11 points in 36 minutes and made just 2 of 13 3-pointers as Indiana lost 93-69.
“Obviously, we had a lot of eye contact. I don't think it affected me, honestly,” Clark told reporters after the game. “I felt like I had some good shots, but they just didn't go in. Obviously, it was a tough time for that to happen, but I made some good shots. I took some 3-pointers from pretty wide in the first half, like I usually do, so [I] I fought and did my best.
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Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) warms up before Game 1 of the first round of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs at Mohegan Sun Arena on September 22, 2024 in Uncasville, Connecticut, USA. (Mark Smith-Imagn Images)
“We were right there. We just felt like we played a bad game. The flow of the game was really bad.”
She played the rest of the game with a black eye.
Clark was named the Associated Press WNBA Rookie of the Year that same day, but her shooting performance highlighted the team's overall struggles.
Indiana Fever player Caitlin Clark watches the game against the Connecticut Sun during Game 1 of the first round of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs at Mohegan Sun Arena on September 22, 2024 in Uncasville, Connecticut. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
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The Fever made 6 of 28 3-pointers for a field goal percentage of 40.3%. Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with 21 points. Aaliyah Boston had 17 points and 11 rebounds.
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