The Connecticut Sun delivered a dominant performance in Game 1 of their first-round playoff clash, overwhelming the Indiana Fever with a 93-69 victory. While the Fever fought hard, keeping the game competitive through the first three quarters, the fourth quarter was all Connecticut, with Alyssa Thomas leading the charge. However, the Sun may have a potential challenge ahead, as Game 2 is just three days away, and there’s uncertainty surrounding Thomas’ availability.

As the final buzzer sounded in the Round 1 matchup between the Fever and Sun, ESPN reporter Alexa Philippou delivered a concerning update about Alyssa Thomas. She tweeted, “Alyssa Thomas is down clutching her lower leg/ankle area. She gets up and walks off the floor grimacing, but with this game over don’t expect we’ll be seeing her again. She’s getting attended to on the Sun bench since checking out.”

The Sun No.25’s injury scare might be an obstacle in their mission to sweep the Fever. She made her mark in the Sun’s playoff opener, becoming the second player in WNBA history to record a triple-double in the first round, securing her tenth rebound and assist in the fourth quarter. Yet, Sun fans were left anxious when she was subbed out with three minutes left on the clock, limping toward the bench.

While the severity of Thomas’ injury is still unknown, her availability is now a major concern heading into the rest of the series, especially with Tyasha Harris’ status also in question. Thomas was, without a doubt, the Sun’s most influential player in their Game 1 win over the Fever.

Alyssa Thomas shines with a triple-double performance

From the opening quarter, Alyssa Thomas set the tone, making it clear she was on a mission to lead her team to victory over the Fever. Her impact was felt immediately, assisting DeWanna Bonner’s first bucket for the Sun, and following that up with three consecutive assists. Thomas also added six points of her own in the first quarter, showing she was ready to contribute in every way possible.

While it was Marina Mabrey and DeWanna Bonner who led the scoring chart for the Uncasville franchise, it surely would not have been possible without Thomas’ playmaking. By the end of the third quarter, Thomas already had 12 points along with 9 assists and rebounds to her name. It was in the fourth quarter that she notched the 15th triple-double of her career.

In the final quarter, Thomas continued to shine, adding another rebound and four assists to her impressive stats. By the end of the game, she had tallied 12 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds, leading in both assists and rebounds. This marked her fourth postseason triple-double but made her only the second player in WNBA history, after Sheryl Swoopes, to achieve this feat in the first round of the playoffs.

With just 3:36 minutes left on the clock, Thomas made her last notable contribution, dishing out a pass to Veronica Burton, who drained a three-pointer. However, shortly after, she was subbed out and did not return to the game, leaving fans anxious about her condition. As Connecticut gears up to face the Fever again on September 25 at Mohegan Sun Arena, all eyes will be on Thomas’s recovery, as her presence could be vital for an easy sweep of the Fever.