The Indiana Fever's 88-71 win over the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse secured their berth in the Commissioner's Cup final. However, the match between both times also witnessed a massive brawl, resulting in three ejections.
Fever point guard Caitlin Clark found herself at the centre of a brawl with Sun guards Jacy Sheldon and Marina Mabrey. After Sheldon poked Clark in the eye during a pass attempt, the rookie star responded instinctively. A push from Clark was quickly answered by Sheldon, resulting in players from both benches rushing in.
Connecticut Sun center Tina Charles intervened immediately, trying to break things up, but Mabrey escalated the matter by chesting up and knocking Clark down. After reviewing the incident, Clark was given a technical foul, while a flagrant foul was given to Sheldon, and technical fouls to Charles and Mabrey.
That was just the start to what was supposed to happen in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Fever guard Sophie Cunningham committed a hard foul on Sheldon, prompting an outright brawl. Cunningham was hit with a flagrant 2 and ejected, while Sheldon and Sun veteran Lindsay Allen were also ejected.
Caitlin Clark takes Indiana Fever to the Commissioners Cup final
Caitlin Clark delivered 20 points, six assists, and four three-pointers to the victory. The Fever's victory, combined with Atlanta's loss to New York, secured their spot in the Commissioners Cup with a record of 4-1.
Indiana has reached the Commissioner's Cup final for the first time in the tournament's five-year history. Connecticut, Chicago, and New York formerly represented the East thrice each.
Only the Liberty have won the Eastern Conference cup, which occurred in 2023. DeWanna Bonner, who has missed the last two games due to personal reasons, is the only current Fever player to have appeared in a cup final, which was with the Sun in 2021.
Indiana will have to travel to Minnesota, the Western Conference representative, for the final on Tuesday, July 1.
Clark has been the recipient of four flagrant fouls through her first 48 WNBA games, including the playoffs, though Tuesday’s was the first this season.
