WNBA playoffs: Solar sweep apart Caitlin Clark and Fever to affix Lynx in final 4

Alyssa Thomas and the Connecticut Solar have been completely happy to lastly shut out a gap spherical sequence at dwelling in two video games.

Thomas had 19 factors and 13 assists to assist the Solar sweep Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever out of the playoffs with an 87-81 win Wednesday evening.

For the reason that league modified its playoff format in 2022 the Solar have wanted to win a decisive third sport on the street within the first spherical to advance, which they did each years. This time have been capable of do it at dwelling.

“Lastly locked in and took benefit of homecourt benefit,” stated Thomas, who had a triple-double within the Recreation 1 win. “We’re prepared. Examined tonight and it wasn’t fairly, however that’s the character of playoffs. We pulled out a gutsy win. We’re hungry and prepared. … We’re prepared for what the playoff journey goes to unfold.”

The third-seeded Solar will now face Minnesota within the semifinals which start Sunday.

Clark performed a lot better in Recreation 2 than she did in her postseason debut Sunday. The AP Rookie of the 12 months completed with 25 factors and 9 assists, but it surely wasn’t sufficient.

“Clearly it’s a tricky one, particularly as we climbed all the way in which again in and simply to have our alternatives late,” Clark stated.

Aliyah Boston added 16 factors and 19 rebounds. Her layup with 2:05 left gave Indiana a 77-75 benefit however DeWanna Bonner, who was enjoying in her WNBA document matching 82nd playoff sport to match Lindsay Whalen, answered with a 3-pointer 14 seconds later.

Neither workforce scored on their subsequent few possessions till Marina Mabrey hit a three-pointer from the wing with 45.5 seconds left to present the Solar an 81-77 lead.

Kelsey Mitchell missed a 3 on the Fever’s subsequent possession and the Solar sealed the sport from the foul line.

Trailing by seven on the half, the Fever scored the primary seven factors of the third quarter to tie the sport up. The groups traded baskets till Lexie Hull’s layup gave the Fever a 48-47 lead halfway by means of the interval.

It was quick lived as Thomas took over, scoring 10 factors throughout a 14-4 run to shut the quarter.

Clark introduced the Fever again along with her three-pointer giving the workforce a 71-70 lead with 3:59 left and the groups traded baskets till Bonner’s three.

Indiana acquired off to a quick begin and was up 14-6 earlier than the Solar scored the ultimate 11 factors of the primary quarter to go up by three. With 1:29 left within the quarter after a foul, Clark identified a fan sitting within the second row to an official, who referred to as safety over and had the person escorted to the again. The fan returned later and there have been no additional incidents.

The run continued to begin the second as Connecticut went up 26-16 on Carrington’s layup with 7:32 left within the half. The Solar led 41-34 on the half. Carrington was honored earlier than the sport because the league’s Most Improved Participant.

On the final play of the half, Erica Wheeler went in for a layup making an attempt to beat the buzzer and went flying into the courtside photographers. She was down for a couple of minutes earlier than getting up and strolling again to the locker room. She had her left thumb checked out and didn’t return within the second half.

Clark completed the half with 14 factors, 4 rebounds and 4 assists.

The Solar have been lacking beginning guard Tyasha Harris, who injured her ankle in Sunday’s win. Mabrey began in her place.

Phoenix Mercury 88-101 Minnesota Lynx

Napheesa Collier scored 42 to tie a WNBA playoff document for factors in a sport, and the Minnesota Lynx swept the Phoenix Mercury 101-88 on Wednesday evening.

Collier tied Breanna Stewart and Angel McCoughtry for the 42-point document when she made 1 of two free throws with 3:18 left within the fourth quarter. It was one among simply two misses from the free-throw line in 14 makes an attempt for Collier, who was subbed out with 58.3 seconds left.

Collier, who scored a career-high 38 factors in Recreation 1, turned the primary participant in WNBA historical past with 38-plus factors in back-to-back playoff video games. She additionally set a WNBA document for probably the most factors (80) by means of the primary two video games of a playoff sequence. Collier reached 38 factors in Recreation 2 with 5:55 left within the fourth.

Minnesota play once more on Sunday in opposition to Connecticut, who superior to their sixth consecutive semi-finals after an 87-81 victory over Indiana earlier Wednesday.