Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever face the Connecticut Sun in the first round of the 2024 WNBA playoffs

It’s official: Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever will meet the Connecticut Sun in the 2024 WNBA playoffs.

The Sun, a preseason favorite to compete for the WNBA championship, clinched third place by beating the Chicago Sky, 85-54, in the regular-season finale on Thursday.

The Fever return to the playoffs for the first time since 2016, propelled into the postseason by the play of Caitlin Clark, who is all but assured of winning the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year award.

Indiana boasts one of the league’s top veterans in point guard Kelsey Mitchell, who is in her seventh professional season. But no Fever starter has WNBA playoff experience, while the Sun and its core have made multiple playoff runs, including a trip to the 2022 Finals, where they lost to the Las Vegas Aces in four games. Earlier this season, the Sun traded for point guard Marina Mabrey, a sharpshooter on the perimeter, in hopes of bolstering their title chances.

WNBA Playoffs Format

In the WNBA playoff format, the sixth seed plays the third seed in the first round. All first-round games are best-of-three, with the first two games played at the home of the higher-seeded team; the third game, if necessary, is played at the home of the lower-seeded team.

This format means that lower-seeded teams in the playoffs may not see the huge financial benefit of hosting a postseason game, and if they manage to steal an away game, it puts the higher-seeded team in the difficult position of winning Game 3 in a hostile environment.

Thus, Indiana (6th) (20-20) will meet Connecticut (3rd) (28-12).

Indiana vs Connecticut Playoff Schedule

➤ Game 1: Sunday, September 22 in Connecticut, 3 p.m. ET on ABC

➤ Game 2: Wednesday, September 25 in Connecticut, 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN

➤ Game 3 (if necessary): Friday, September 27 at Indiana, kickoff time TBD, on ESPN2

How did Caitlin Clark play against the Connecticut Sun this season?

The Sun and Fever have met four times this year, with Connecticut holding a 3-1 advantage. Here’s how Clark has played in each of those games:

∎ May 14: Connecticut 92, Indiana 71

• Clark’s stats: 20 points (5 of 15 shooting, including 4 of 11 from 3-point range), 3 assists, 2 steals, 10 turnovers

∎ May 20: Connecticut 88, Indiana 84

• Clark’s stats: 17 points (5 of 11 shooting, including 3 of 7 from three-point range), 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks, 5 turnovers

∎ June 10: Connecticut 89, Indiana 72

• Clark’s stats: 10 points (3 of 8 shooting, including 2 of 5 from 3-point range), 2 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers

∎ August 28: Indiana 84, Connecticut 80

• Clark’s stats: 19 points (7 of 17 shooting, including 3 of 12 from 3-point range), 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 7 turnovers

It’s worth noting that Indiana’s only win over Connecticut this season came after the Olympic break, which has been a huge benefit to Clark and the Fever as a whole. Indiana has been one of the best teams since the WNBA resumed play in August, going 9-4; Vegas is the only team Indiana hasn’t beaten this season.

Caitlin Clark vs DiJonai Carrington

In the playoffs, as in the regular season, Clark will likely be defended by Connecticut’s DiJonai Carrington, one of the league’s best perimeter defenders. The 5-foot-11 Carrington is a superior athlete — it runs in the family, as her brother played eight seasons in the NFL — with long arms and quick feet who thrive on physical play. She and Clark have developed something of a rivalry this season, with Carrington repeatedly complaining to the referees about Clark’s foul calls.

Regardless, it’s clear that Carrington knows how to guard Clark, as the Rookie of the Year favorite has averaged just 39 percent (20 of 51) shooting from the field against the Sun in four meetings, and has shot just 34 percent (12 of 35) from three-point range. Additionally, while Carrington has downplayed their one-on-one matchups, it’s clear that Carrington prides herself on frustrating whoever she’s guarding and pressuring her to make mistakes and make quick shots.

The Suns have the league’s top defensive rating and a group of long-span players who can harass Clark and the other Indiana guards. If Carrington doesn’t guard Clark, it’ll likely be DeWanna Bonner or Alyssa Thomas, two veterans who also enjoy making life difficult for opposing guards.

Bottom line: Indiana has been playing very well since the Olympic break, thanks in part to increased production from guards Kelsey Mitchell and Lexie Hull. But the Fever have their work cut out for them.

Email Lindsay Schnell at [email protected] and follow her on social media @Lindsay_Schnell

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever face Connecticut Sun in WNBA playoffs