Indiana Fever Face Connecticut Sun in Crucial Commissioner’s Cup Matchup

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Indiana Fever (5-5) are set to host the Connecticut Sun (2-8) on Tuesday, June 17, at 7 p.m. ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. This game marks the conclusion of the Commissioner’s Cup pool play for the Fever, who need a victory to secure their spot in the championship game.

Indiana can clinch first place in the Eastern Conference if they win and the New York Liberty defeats the Atlanta Dream. The Fever currently hold a 3-1 record in Commissioner’s Cup play, having recently handed the unbeaten Liberty its first loss of the season by a score of 102-88.

All-Star guard Caitlin Clark’s return from injury significantly bolstered the Fever in their last game. After missing five games due to a quad strain, she logged an impressive 32 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists against New York. Her performance included going 7-for-14 from three-point range.

Kelsey Mitchell added 22 points while several other players contributed significantly, with Lexie Hull scoring 14 points and grabbing four rebounds, Aliyah Boston achieving a double-double with 10 points and 11 boards, and Sydney Colson scoring 10 points with six assists.

On the other side, the Connecticut Sun are trying to rise from a challenging start as they seek their third win of the season. After five consecutive losses, they secured two wins in the last five games, including a previous narrow victory against Indiana on May 30.

The Sun rely heavily on the scoring of veterans Marina Mabrey and Tina Charles. Mabrey averages 17.6 points, while Charles contributes 16.8 points per game. Both will be pivotal as the Sun aim to break their recent losing trend, following a 78-66 loss to the Chicago Sky.

If the Fever advance to the Commissioner’s Cup championship game, it will occur on July 1 at the arena of the team with the best overall record. Currently, Minnesota leads the Western Conference, with teams like Phoenix, Golden State, and Seattle still in contention.

This matchup between Indiana and Connecticut is expected to be intense, as both teams vie for crucial victories in the WNBA season.