Caitlin Clark sets WNBA rookie record for 3s as Fever beat Sun and snap 11-game skid in series

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Kelsey Mitchell scored 23 points, Caitlin Clark had 19 points, five rebounds and five assists, and the Indiana Fever beat the Connecticut Sun 84-80 on Wednesday night to snap an 11-game losing streak in the series.

It was Indiana's first win against Connecticut since July 3, 2021. The Fever (15-16) have won four of five since returning from the WNBA's Olympic break while the Sun saw their three-game winning streak come to an end.

Neither team led by double figures in a game where Clark set a WNBA rookie record for 3-pointers, passing Rhyne Howard’s 85 in 2022, with a triple in the first quarter. Clark added two more 3-pointers before finishing 3 of 12, giving her 88 on the season.

For Mitchell, it was her fifth consecutive game with 20-plus points, a franchise record. Her connection with Clark continues to grow.

“I think the best part about it is that our chemistry continues to get better,” Mitchell said during a postgame interview with NBATV. “I value what Caitlin brings to the table because not only does she have the pace and the space, but she can shoot the lights out and you just got to be ready when your number’s called with a person like that.”

With Indiana leading 82-80, Clark had a long 3-pointer rattle out and Connecticut called a timeout with 38.6 seconds left. Marina Mabrey worked the clock down before passing it to Alyssa Thomas, who had it stolen by Indiana's Temi Fagbenle with 24.1 remaining.

Lexie Hull, a 76% free-throw shooter, made two free throws with 19.4 seconds left to give Indiana a four-point lead. DiJonai Carrington was short on a 3-point attempt and Clark grabbed the rebound before running out the clock.

Hull, in her second start of the season, had 17 points and eight rebounds for Indiana. The Fever went 13 of 30 from distance, with four 3-pointers apiece from Hull and Mitchell.

Carrington scored 19 points, Thomas had 17 points, six rebounds and six assists, and Mabrey added 16 points off the bench for Connecticut (22-8). DeWanna Bonner had 13 points and eight rebounds.

Indiana led 51-42 at halftime behind three double-digit scorers. Mitchell scored 13 points, and Hull and Clark each had 10. The Fever shot 55% in the first half as the teams combined for 21 turnovers.

Simone Biles, fresh off winning three more Olympic gold medals in Paris, was in attendance. Gabby Thomas, who won three gold medals in track, also posed for photos with players in the Fever locker room after the game.

AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) shot over Connecticut Sun forward Brionna Jones (42) in the second half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) drives on Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington (21) in the second half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull (10) drives on Connecticut Sun forward Brionna Jones (42) in the second half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, top, and Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington (21) go to the floor for a loose ball in the second half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston (7) shoots over Connecticut Sun forward DeWanna Bonner (24) in the second half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington (21) fouls Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) in the second half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Connecticut Sun guard Marina Mabrey (4) drives on Indiana Fever guard Erica Wheeler (17) in the first half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Connecticut Sun forward DeWanna Bonner (24) shoots over Indiana Fever guard Erica Wheeler (17) in the first half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington (21) shoots over Indiana Fever forward NaLyssa Smith (1) in the first half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Connecticut Sun forward Olivia Nelson-Ododa (10) shoots over Indiana Fever forward Damiris Dantas (12) in the first half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington (21) drives on Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) in the first half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indiana Fever forward NaLyssa Smith (1) celebrates a three-point basket against the Connecticut Sun in the first half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indiana Fever forward Damiris Dantas (12) knocks the ball away from Connecticut Sun forward Brionna Jones (42) in the first half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Fernando Tatís Jr. hit a two-run homer, Dylan Cease struck out 10 in six shutout innings and the San Diego Padres beat the San Francisco Giants 5-0 on Friday night.

The Padres are a half-game ahead of the Diamondbacks atop the National League wild card standings and 1 1/2 games in front of the Mets for the third and final wild card spot. The Giants have lost three of four.

Luis Arráez had three hits and a walk on Friday, extending his streak to 129 consecutive at bats without a strikeout. It’s the longest since Juan Pierre went 147 at bats without a strikeout in 2004.

Cease (13-11) recorded his 1,000th career strikeout in the third inning when he got Donovan Walton looking. He held the Giants to four hits and two walks, and also got some help from defense in the sixth when Tatís and Jake Cronenworth combined to cut down Heliot Ramos at the plate on a double by Patrick Bailey.

San Diego scored three times in the first inning off Logan Webb (12-10). Tatís homered to center field after Arráez led off the game with a single. Xander Bogaerts drove in Manny Machado with an RBI double later in the inning.

Webb gave up a fourth run in the fourth when he threw wildly to first on a comebacker by Elias Díaz, allowing Jackson Merrill to score from second. He exited after the fourth after allowing seven hits, striking out four and walking one while throwing 83 pitches.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Padres: IF Ha-Seong Kim (right shoulder inflammation), whose recovery has been shaky, was scheduled to throw on Friday but manager Mike Shildt said that Kim has “gone back a little bit in his throwing intensity.”

Giants: IF Tyler Fitzgerald (lower back tightness) has no structural damage in his lower back after undergoing an MRI. The shortstop is considered day-to-day after leaving Thursday’s game early, and manager Bob Melvin said he isn’t expected to go on the IL. … LHP Robbie Ray (left hamstring strain) is scheduled to throw a bullpen this weekend. … RHP Randy Rodriguez (right elbow inflammation) threw a bullpen on Thursday and is scheduled for another on Sunday.

UP NEXT

RHP Mason Black (0-3, 7.50 ERA) is scheduled to pitch for the Giants in the second game of the series, opposite RHP Joe Musgrove (5-5, 4.64 ERA) for the Padres.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

San Diego Padres catcher Elias Díaz, right, waits to tag out San Francisco Giants' Heliot Ramos at home during the sixth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

San Diego Padres' Brandon Lockridge, from left, celebrates with Jackson Merrill and Fernando Tatis Jr. after the Padres defeated the San Francisco Giants in a baseball game in San Francisco, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

San Diego Padres pitcher Dylan Cease works against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr., right, celebrates after hitting a two-run home run that also scored Luis Arraez (4) during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

San Diego Padres right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr., middle, celebrates with teammates during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr., right, hits a two-run home run in front of San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)