David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images
Caitlin Clark is not making any excuses.
The Indiana Fever rookie guard was hit in the eye by Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington just 90 seconds into the Fever’s Game 1, 93-69 loss. Clark had a tough night shooting but did not attribute her struggles to the incident.
Matthew Byrne @MatthewByrne1
Caitlin Clark on the hit to her eye in the 1Q: “Obviously got me pretty good… I don’t think it affected me. I felt like I got good shots, they just didn’t go down.” […] “I felt like we just played a crappy game. The flow of the game was really bad.” pic.twitter.com/J2RrTgQIh9
“Obviously got me pretty good,” Clark told reporters.I don’t think it affected me. I felt like I got good shots, they just didn’t go down.”
Clark went 4-of-17 shooting and 2-of-13 from three-point range. She finished the day with 11 points, eight assists, four rebounds and three steals.
While she still impacted the game, the shooting struggles did not help the Fever’s offensive output and now the team is on the brink of elimination.
This marks the first time Indiana has reached the postseason since 2016. Now, Clark will hope for a better showing in Game 2.
That matchup is slated for Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET. If Indiana is able to hold off the Sun, the winner-take-all Game 3 will take place Friday in Indianapolis.
