Connecticut

Caitlin Clark endures tough playoff debut as seasoned Sun disrupt young Fever squad

Published

1 year ago

September 23, 2024

Caitlin Clark endures tough playoff debut as seasoned Sun disrupt young Fever squad

UNCASVILLE, Conn. — As Caitlin Clark goes, so go the Indiana Fever. That was true throughout a remarkable regular season of rookie joy, uplifting achievement and unexpected triumph.

It also was true on Sunday afternoon, when the rough-and-tumble reality of the WNBA postseason came crashing down on a Fever starting five that had never played a second in the playoffs before they stepped onto the court for Game 1 against the formidable and seasoned Connecticut Sun.

For Clark, the day began fabulously. She finished fourth in WNBA voting for Most Valuable Player, an award won appropriately and unanimously by Las Vegas star A’ja Wilson. Clark also collected three honors from the Associated Press: Rookie of the Year, unanimously; All-WNBA First Team and All-Rookie Team.

So the morning was terrific for Clark. The afternoon, not so much.

In a 93-69 loss to the Sun, Clark received a black eye, both literally and figuratively. Poked in the right eye in the game’s first 90 seconds by the Sun’s DiJonai Carrington, Clark ended up with quite a shiner. It was logical to ask if that had anything to do with her 4-for-17 shooting, including 2-of-13 from 3-point range, but, after the game, she quickly shut down that theory.

“Obviously, got me pretty good in the eye. I don’t think it affected me, honestly, I felt like I got good shots, they just didn’t go down. Obviously, a tough time for that to happen. I got some really good looks. I had two, three pretty wide open 3’s in the first half that you usually make,” Clark said.

“So that’s tough, but I felt like I battled and tried my best, took care of the ball better than I usually do (she tied her season low with two turnovers), which is a positive.”

Clark said the Fever still were in it until things got out of hand late as the relentless Sun poured it on at the end.

“Like coach (Christie Sides) said in the locker room, we’re down three first quarter, down five (more) second quarter, and then lost by three (more) in the third — we were right there, and it felt like we just played a crappy game, like the flow of the game was really bad,” she said.

GAME 1 RECAP: Fever, Clark struggle in playoff loss to Sun

But as for her eye, she made it crystal clear: “It didn’t bother me. Obviously, it didn’t feel too good when it happened. But it is what it is.”

As they prepared for this best-of-three series, the Fever had talked about how they were hoping their youthful exuberance might carry the day. They were buoyed by what had worked over the past month, a Clark-fueled adrenaline rush of a run leading to a 9-5 post-Olympics record, including an 84-80 victory over Connecticut in Indianapolis August 28. Clark and her running mate Kelsey Mitchell had finished the summer on a tear, with a supporting cast that rose to the occasion over and over again, including some magnificent play by Aliyah Boston and Lexie Hull, among others.

Could that be the formula for success in a short series against a far more experienced foe? Connecticut’s players came into Sunday’s game having played a combined 222 playoff games. The entire Fever roster had played just 19.

WNBA PLAYOFF PICKS: Will Fever advance and will the Aces repeat?

The answer to that question was obvious as the game wore on: not on this day. Connecticut was just too physical, just too good. Clark ended with 11 points, eight assists, four rebounds and three steals.

Sun Coach Stephanie White decided to switch things up after losing that August game to Indiana, putting 6-4 veteran DeWanna Bonner on the 6-0 Clark.

“So much about this game is about comfort, it’s about rhythm, it’s about timing, it’s about all those things,” White said. “How can you make an adjustment that disrupts some of that? … Credit to (Bonner) for accepting this challenge. It gave us a different look at the point and I really liked that.”

Now Connecticut is one win away from taking the series and eliminating the Fever, while Indiana needs a victory in Game 2 here Wednesday to force a decisive Game 3 in Indiana Friday.

In the Fever camp, there was optimism. “These guys are going to shoot the ball a lot better on Wednesday,” Sides said, “and that’s going to make a huge difference.”

With a grand total of one playoff game now on her resume, Clark and her teammates will do the only thing they can do in this series. They’ll go right back at it.

Editor’s note: Christine Brennan is writing a book on Caitlin Clark and the revolution in women’s sports to be published by Scribner in spring/summer 2025.

Follow Christine Brennan on social media @cbrennansports

Source link

Click to comment

Connecticut

CT Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life winning numbers for Jan. 3, 2026

Published

2 hours ago

January 4, 2026

Press Room

CT Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life winning numbers for Jan. 3, 2026

The Connecticut Lottery offers several draw games for those willing to make a bet to win big.

Those who want to play in Connecticut can enter the CT Lotto, Lucky for Life and Cash 5 games as well as play the national Powerball and Mega Millions games. There are also two drawings a day for the Play 3 with Wild Ball and Play 4 with Wild Ball games.

Drawings are held at regular days and times, check the end of this story to see the schedule. Here’s a look at Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026 results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Jan. 3 drawing

18-21-40-53-60, Powerball: 23, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Jan. 3 drawing

01-02-28-30-43, Lucky Ball: 07

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 5 numbers from Jan. 3 drawing

12-13-16-20-32

Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Play3 numbers from Jan. 3 drawing

Day: 5-3-3, WB: 7

Night: 1-8-1, WB: 9

Check Play3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Play4 numbers from Jan. 3 drawing

Day: 3-5-9-4, WB: 4

Night: 7-0-2-6, WB: 4

Check Play4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

Connecticut Lottery prizes up to $599 can be easily claimed at any authorized CT Lottery Retailer without additional forms or documentation or by mail. For prizes between $600 and $5,000, winners have the option to claim by mail or in person at any CT Lottery High-Tier Claim Center or CT Lottery Headquarters. For prizes between $5,001 and $49,999, winnings must be claimed in person at the Connecticut Lottery headquarters or by mail. All prizes over $50,000 must be claimed in person at CT Lottery Headquarters. Winners are required to bring a government-issued photo ID and their Social Security card.

CT Lottery Claims Dept.

15 Sterling Drive

Wallingford, CT 06492

For additional details, including locations of High-Tier Claim Centers, visit the Connecticut Lottery’s claim information page.

When are the Connecticut Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 10:30 p.m. daily.
Lotto: 10:38 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday.
Cash 5: 10:29 p.m. daily.
Play3 Day: 1:57 p.m. daily.
Play3 Night: 10:29 p.m. daily.
Play4 Day: 1:57 p.m. daily.
Play4 Night: 10:29 p.m. daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Connecticut editor. You can send feedback using this form.

Source link

Connecticut

Connecticut leaders react to capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro

Published

15 hours ago

January 3, 2026

Press Room

Connecticut leaders react to capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro

CONNECTICUT (WTNH) — The United States military carried out “large scale” strike inside Venezuela in the early hours of Saturday morning, capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, according to President Donald Trump.

Leaders in Connecticut are responding to the military action.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) shared the following statement.

“If we’re starting another endless war, with no clear national security strategy or need, count me out. Maduro is a cruel criminal dictator, but President Trump has never sought approval from Congress for war as the Constitution requires – and our military deserves. We’ve seen several Administrations lead us into conflicts without objectives or timelines and with disastrous consequences. President Trump has also articulated no clear end game to prevent further chaos, violence, and bloodshed in Venezuela. The American people deserve—and Congress should demand—facts and clarity.”

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) called the strike the start of an “illegal war” between the U.S. and Venezuela.

“President Trump thinks he is above the law. He steals from taxpayers. He thumbs his nose at the law. And now, he is starting an illegal war with Venezuela that Americans didn’t ask for and has nothing to do with our security. How does going to war in South America help regular Americans who are struggling? How does this do anything about drugs entering the U.S. when Venezuela produces no fentanyl? What is the actual security threat to the United States? And what happens next in Venezuela? He cannot answer these questions – and that’s why there was no briefing to Congress to explain this action, and no briefing scheduled. And Maduro’s illegitimate election does not give the president the power to invade without congressional approval, nor does it create a national security justification. That contention is laughable. This is about satisfying Trump’s vanity, making good on the long standing neocon grudge against Maduro, enriching Trump’s oil industry backers, and distracting voters from Epstein and rising costs.”

Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) said the Trump administration acted without congressional approval.

“Maduro is an illegitimate ruler, but I have seen no evidence that his presidency poses a threat that would justify military action without Congressional authorization, nor have I heard a strategy for the day after and how we will prevent Venezuela from descending into chaos. Secretary Rubio repeatedly denied to Congress that the Administration intended to force regime change in Venezuela. The Administration must immediately brief Congress on its plan to ensure stability in the region and its legal justification for this decision.”

State Senate Republican Leader Stephen Harding (R-Conn.) shared that he hopes Maduro is brought to justice, calling him an “integral culprit” in the “narcotic ring” in the United States.

“President Maduro has been an integral culprit in fostering the narcotic ring in our country which has killed far too many Americans. I hope he is brought to justice and we can continue to address the substance abuse crisis that our state and country continues to face.

The Chairman of the Connecticut Republican Party Ben Proto shared the following statement.

“President Trump promised to stop the flow of drugs into the US that have been killing millions of Americans. Nicolas Maduro, who declared himself President, while getting about 30% of the vote in the last so called free election in Venezuela, was given multiple warnings to stop the flow of drugs from his country into America, was offered help by the Trump administration in stopping the flow, but he continued to, not only allow the flow of drugs, but condone it and profit from it. Presidents have long used their constitutional authority to intervene in other countries when those countries posed a danger to America and Americans. President Trump did just that. Unfortunately Democrats, particularly Jim Himes, Chris Murphy and Dick Blumenthal are more interested in playing politics than in protecting Americans. Nearly 1,000 Connecticut residents died from drug overdoses in 2024 and we have seen an increase in overdoses in 2025. If only Democrats cared as much about Americans as they do about a drug lord running another country who profits from the death of Americans.“

Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.) demanded that Congress must be briefed before further action.

“As information about U.S military strikes in Venezuela unfold, I have more questions than answers. Nicolas Maduro is a brutal dictator who caused so much harm to his people. However, as Americans we must seriously weigh the consequences of attacking a sovereign nation and committing to “run Venezuela.” Congress must be briefed immediately, before this situation continues to escalate. I will comment further as credible information becomes available to Members of Congress.“

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) shared the following statement, claiming that there could be “severe repercussions for American interests.”

“President Trump’s unilateral decision to attempt a regime change operation in Venezuela by using military force to capture Nicolas Maduro and declaring, ‘we will run the country’, threatens global order and is a fundamental violation of the Constitution, which gives Congress the responsibility of authorizing major military actions that could have severe repercussions for American interests.

“America’s unprecedented global strength and prosperity was built on this principle of restraining military force through democratic bodies like Congress. President Trump has shredded this principle, and along with it has destroyed American credibility and emboldened our adversaries to act with similar aggression. This new foreign policy that President Trump and his advisors have used to justify this act of war, including invoking the 200-year-old Monroe Doctrine as a justification for America to do whatever it pleases in the Western Hemisphere, is the exact same reasoning that China would use to justify invading Taiwan, and which Russia has used to assault Ukraine.

“President Trump has also now threatened Cuba with similar language, and is preparing a giant corrupt giveaway to oil companies by claiming that the United States will acquire Venezuela’s oil. This is corruption of the highest order. Maduro was an authoritarian who stayed in power despite the will of the people, but that does not justify the United States in starting a war to benefit some of the world’s wealthiest corporations.

“President Trump did all of this without the consent of Congress, and without providing any details or day-after plans. The full consequences of this act of war will not be known for some time, and they may require putting American boots on the ground in Venezuela, as the President has said he was prepared to do. The American people do not want to be dragged into another endless conflict distracting from the rising cost of living and the affordability crisis. Whatever happens next, the responsibility will be squarely with President Trump and his contempt for the Constitution and for Congress.”

Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.) echoed the statements of his fellow Democrats.

“This is yet another authoritarian power grab by Donald Trump. As he indicated in his address, it’s clear it’s about the oil!!! And securing that oil!!! And securing it with the use of our brave men and women in the United States military!!! The Constitution entrusts Congress, not the President, with the power to declare war for a reason. It’s Congress’s responsibility to decide whether the nation goes to war or not! That’s why I’m joining with others in calling on the President to immediately brief Congress—and for Congress to assert its authority under the Constitution and the War Powers Act—to let this President know he does not have the authority to unilaterally commit our country to yet another endless war.“

This is a developing story. Stay with News 8 for updates.

Source link