Latest news with #WNBAFinals
Axios
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Axios
Old News: The Indiana Fever overcame the odds to win it all
As the Pacers pursue the franchise's first NBA championship, let's reminisce about the last time Indianapolis sat atop the professional basketball world. Driving the (old) news: The Indiana Fever entered the WNBA's 2012 postseason in second place after putting together a 22-12 regular season record behind the efforts of stars like Tamika Catchings and Katie Douglas. But the playoffs were no walk in the park. The Fever faced elimination in both the conference semifinals against the Atlanta Dream, and the conference finals opposite the Connecticut Sun. The franchise earned a second trip to the WNBA Finals after an unsuccessful 2009 appearance. The other side: The Maya Moore-led Minnesota Lynx were the defending champs, and the picture of dominance. They walked into finals with a league-best 27-7 regular season record — including a 16-1 record at home — and just a single playoff loss before facing Indiana. Yes, but: The Fever would overcome the odds one more time. After dropping the first game in their two previous series, a Game 1 Indiana victory on the road put a sizable crack in Minnesota's armor. The Lynx tied it up in Game 2, but the ball remained firmly in the Fever's court when the series came home to Indy. Back-to-back wins in the former Bankers Life Fieldhouse brought the 2012 Finals to an end, and the WNBA Championship Trophy to the Circle City. Fun fact: In 2022, members of that championship squad got together at Gainbridge for a 10th anniversary celebration. The latest: The Pacers are two wins away from a celebration of their own. But one more loss will defer those championship dreams for another year. The Fever, meanwhile, have made it clear that another title is the goal in 2025 — after returning the team to playoff caliber in 2024 and making significant roster moves in the offseason. The bottom line: With two teams full of talent, both the Fever and the Pacers are in prime positions for more championship parades in the future.
Hindustan Times
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
‘I wish…': Caitlin Clark's honest admission about the NBA Finals Game 6
Caitlin Clark has been avidly following the NBA Finals series, rooting for the Indiana Pacers against the Oklahoma Thunder. But she is sad due to one thing, Game 6 falls around the same time she is taking the court for Indiana Fever in the WNBA. Before the Thursday night game against the Golden State Valkyries, the Fever star made an honest admission about the WNBA Finals: she wished she could watch it live. 'I wish it didn't fall on the same night as us, but I feel good about the Pacers here in Game 6. I think they're gonna push it to a Game 7. I think all basketball fans would appreciate a Game 7 in OKC,' Caitlin Clark told reporters before the WNBA clash.
Boston Globe
2 days ago
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Alyssa Thomas leads Mercury past Sun in first game against her former team
Connecticut (2-10) is off to its worst start in franchise history. The Sun have lost four straight games and five of six. Rookie Aneesa Morrow scored a season-high 16 points for the Sun. Jacy Sheldon hit three 3s and finished with 13 points. Olivia Nelson-Ododa added 10 points, a career-high 14 rebounds and a season-best three blocks. The Mercury snapped a four-game skid against Connecticut and a six-game losing streak at Mohegan Sun Arena. Advertisement Phoenix scored the game's first 10 points as Connecticut started 0 for 5 from the field and committed four turnovers before finishing 4-for-19 shooting in the first quarter. Sheldon had 11 points, including three 3s, as Connecticut used a 16-4 run to trim its deficit to 39-35. Sheldon capped the run with the reverse layup. Thomas had two layups and an assist as the Sun scored nine of the last 11 first-half points to take a 48-36 lead into the break. Thomas, who helped the Sun reach the WNBA Finals in 2019 and 2022 and was traded to Phoenix in the offseason, returned from a five-game absence because of a calf injury.
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Alyssa Thomas and Lexi Held score 14 apiece to lead Mercury past Sun 83-75
UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) — Alyssa Thomas had 14 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds against her former team, Satou Sabally added 12 points and a season-high 15 rebounds as the Phoenix Mercury beat the Connecticut Sun 83-75 Wednesday night. Phoenix (9-4) has won three in a row for the first time this season. Lexi Held added 14 points, Kahleah Copper 13 and Kitija Laksa 11 for the Mercury. Connecticut (2-10) is off to its worst start in franchise history. The Sun have lost four straight games and five of six. Rookie Aneesa Morrow scored a season-high 16 points for the Sun. Jacy Sheldon hit three 3s and finished with 13 points. Olivia Nelson-Ododa added 10 points, a career-high 14 rebounds and a season-best three blocks. The Mercury snapped a four-game skid against Connecticut and a six-game losing streak at Mohegan Sun Arena. Phoenix scored the game's first 10 points as Connecticut started 0 for 5 from the field and committed four turnovers before finishing 4-of-19 shooting in the first quarter. Sheldon had 11 points, including three 3s, as Connecticut used a 16-4 run to trim its deficit to 39-35. Sheldon capped the run with the reverse layup. Thomas had two layups and an assist as the Sun scored nine of the last 11 first-half points to take a 48-36 lead into the break. Thomas, who helped the Sun reach the WNBA Finals in 2019 and 2022 and was traded to Phoenix in the offseason, returned from a five-game absence due to a calf injury. Up next The Mercury play the third of a four-game trip Thursday against New York. The Sun host Dallas on Sunday. ___ AP WNBA:
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Alyssa Thomas and Lexi Held score 14 apiece to lead Mercury past Sun 83-75
UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Alyssa Thomas had 14 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds against her former team, Satou Sabally added 12 points and a season-high 15 rebounds as the Phoenix Mercury beat the Connecticut Sun 83-75 Wednesday night. Phoenix has won three in a row for the first time this season. Lexi Held added 14 points, Kahleah Copper 13 and Kitija Laksa 11 for the Mercury. Connecticut is off to its worst start in franchise history. The Sun have lost four straight games and five of six. Rookie Aneesa Morrow scored a season-high 16 points for the Sun. Jacy Sheldon hit three 3s and finished with 13 points. Olivia Nelson-Ododa added 10 points, a career-high 14 rebounds and a season-best three blocks. The Mercury snapped a four-game skid against Connecticut and a six-game losing streak at Mohegan Sun Arena. Phoenix scored the game's first 10 points as Connecticut started 0 for 5 from the field and committed four turnovers before finishing 4-of-19 shooting in the first quarter. Sheldon had 11 points, including three 3s, as Connecticut used a 16-4 run to trim its deficit to 39-35. Sheldon capped the run with the reverse layup. Thomas had two layups and an assist as the Sun scored nine of the last 11 first-half points to take a 48-36 lead into the break. Thomas, who helped the Sun reach the WNBA Finals in 2019 and 2022 and was traded to Phoenix in the offseason, returned from a five-game absence due to a calf injury. The Mercury play the third of a four-game trip Thursday against New York. The Sun host Dallas on Sunday. WNBA: /hub/wnba-basketball
