Natalie Esquires advices Sun to tank games and avoid Caitlin Clark’s Fever in playoffs (Credit: Connecticut Sun, Indiana Fever, Natalie Esquire/Instagram)

Natalie Esquire advices Sun to tank games and avoid Caitlin Clark’s Fever in playoffs: “Bit more concerned”

Modified Sep 17, 2024 04:46 GMT

NBC reporter Natalie Esquire has said that the Connecticut Sun could benefit from losing games down the final stretch of the regular season to avoid playing Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever in the WNBA playoffs.

Esquire believes that the Seattle Storm, who owns the fifth seed, would be a better matchup for the third-seeded Sun in the first round. On NBC Sports’ “On her Turf,” Esquire discussed how big a challenge the Fever poses than the Storm.

“The Sun, I would just be a little bit more concerned about them, actually, against the Fever, than the Storm (2:30-2:38),” said Esquire.

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Esquire cited Sun’s questionable offensive game, as they only ranked seventh in the league in offensive rating this season.

She also touched on the Fever’s fast-paced style this season, which has allowed them to have a rousing second half of the season, winning seven of their last 10 games.

“I don’t want to look it at like trying to avoid a team, but it’s more like, if you think it’s important to get any of your players rest … and be comfortable to either get four or five (seeds) or do you feel strongly about getting the three seed. I just think a business decision has to be made, (1:24-1:50),” Esquire said.

“I think the Storm would be a better matchup, because of the pace that the Fever play with. The Sun no matter are going to be in games because of their defense due to their defense and if everything is clicking for them offensively, they’re going to be hard to beat. But it’s an if. There’s always a question about their offense (1:56-2:12),” she added.

The Sun only have two games remaining on their schedule. They face the Minnesota Lynx on Sept. 19 and the Chicago Sky a day later.

If the defending WNBA champions Las Vegas Aces win their remaining games and the Sun loses out, they could end up in the fourth seed and face the Storm in the first round. Otherwise, they will take on Caitlin Clark and the Fever.

How the Sun fared against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever this season?

The Connecticut Sun won their season series with the Indiana Fever this season, winning two of their three games. However, the Sun’s wins came early in the season, when Fever’s star Caitlin Clark was acclimating to the WNBA.

In their latest game on Aug. 30, Clark broke the rookie record for most 3-pointers made in a season while also helping end the Fever’s 11-game losing streak against the Sun. Before the game, the last time the Sun had lost to Indiana was on July 3, 2021.

The game, which saw neither team lead by double digits, ended 84-80 in favor of the Fever. DiJonai Carrington led the Sun with 19 points, while Kelsey Mitchell topped the Fever with 23 points, along with Caitlin Clark’s 19.