Fans were waiting for a nail-biter when the Connecticut Sun clashed against the Indiana Fever on Sunday at the Mohegan Sun Arena. While many fans predicted that the third-seeded would go ahead to win the game, an injury in the first quarter has put their plans in trouble. The Sun were leading by a 10-6 margin when their guard Tyasha Harris incurred an ankle twist during the game.

The Indiana Fever star Lexie Hull looked to score a three from the corner. Harris, to stop Hull, tried to block her shot but committed a shooting foul as she did not give the former Cardinal a room to land. And trying to balance herself, the 26-year-old fell to the ground with what looked to be a twisted ankle. Her teammates instantly came to check on her. However, as per the latest update from Rebecca Lobo and Ryan Ruocco, the callers for the matchup, Harris will not take the court again today. Afterwards, Hull made three free throws, bringing the Fever back into the game with the Sun leading by just one point (10-9).

The loss is a crucial one for the Sun as Harris was just beginning to warm up against her opponents. Experts had opined that she would have played a central role in the game, just like she has so far in the season for the Uncasville-based franchise. However, with Harris’s injury update fans are disappointed that the starter would not be able to contribute in their first playoff matchup of the season. And when Harris went off the hardwood, another Sun star Marina Mabrey entered the game.

Harris started this season as the fifth/sixth player for the Sun, but her dominant performances like the one against the Washington Mystics in late July brought her to the spectator’s notice. Harris, notably in that game, had scored 23 points and proved that she could be relied on during clutch moments. Overall, Harris averaged  10.5 points per game with 3 assists per game. While fans are sad that she wouldn’t be able to help her team in this game, some also opine that Harris sacrificed herself in trying to stop Hull.

Lexie Hull turning the tables for her team

During the first half of the W, Lexie Hull barely saw any minutes on the floor. However, after the Olympics break, she started on an impressive note. Just in her second game after the break, Hull hit an exemplary 22 points against the Seattle Storm. The subsequent games saw her in her fiery spirit whenever the team demanded. Thus, she replaced Katie Lou Samuelson in the starters and has not disappointed so far.

In the 14 games she had played up until now before the Olympics, Hull has an average of 8.21 points per game. Apart from that, Hull took her defensive game to another level, averaging a decent 3.9 rebounds per game. All this has helped the Fever become a dominant team after a sluggish start to the season. Additionally, Hull has also hit 24 out of 38 three-pointers she has attempted after the break. She has also been immaculate on the defense, putting pressure on the ball for the opponents, forcing turnovers, and being a great player off the offensive glass.

And even in this game has begun to show her brilliant abilities. At halftime in the Fever’s very first postseason outing, Hull has hit 5 points with 6 rebounds and a singular steal and block. All this has propelled the sixth-seeded team to remain in the game, trailing by only a 38-46 margin.

Though the Sun looks to have compensated for Harris’s loss, it will be interesting to see if they will be able to lead throughout the game. On the other hand, Hull would take this as a gift and try to give her best. And if the Fever win this game, then it will put additional pressure on the Sun, which might also end in making the path to the semifinals clear for the Indianapolis-based franchise.