Caitlin Clark's WNBA Playoff Debut Disappoints Fans as Fever Lose Game 1 to Sun

Caitlin Clark was named the unanimous Associated Press WNBA Rookie of the Year on Sunday after averaging 19.2 points, 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds during the regular season.

Her playoff debut, however, was a bit rockier.

Clark finished with just 11 points, eight assists, four rebounds and three steals—while shooting 4-of-17 from the field (2-of-11 from three) with two turnovers—in the Indiana Fever's 93-69 loss against the Connecticut Sun in Game 1 of the first-round series between the teams.

Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with 21 points, while Marina Mabrey paced the Suns with 27 points off the bench.

Clark has had an astonishing rookie season, no doubt, making her postseason debut all the more surprising for WNBA fans:

Great players have rough games at times, and Clark is no exception. The WNBA playoffs are a different beast to the regular season, a lesson Clark and her teammates undoubtedly learned on Sunday.

But the Fever also weren't expected to be a playoff team after finishing just 13-27 last season. The addition of Clark, the top overall pick in the WNBA draft, played a huge role in the team's immediate turnaround and 20-20 season. That the Fever are even in the playoffs makes this season a resounding success.

If they want to keep their playoff hopes alive, however, they'll need to rebound in a major way on Wednesday night. Game 2 will be on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET.