By Dan Savage

August 23, 2007: Scoreboard | Video Play of the Day | Photo Gallery | Today in the WNBA Archive

PHOTO OF THE DAY Charles Barkley chats with Tamika Whitmore before the Fever's Game 1 playoff matchup against the Sun. Connecticut clipped Indiana, 93-88, in triple overtime on Thursday. Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE/Getty Images

Historic Matchup Highlights Playoffs' Opening Night Connecticut Edges the Fever in Triple Overtime: Although Thursday's Game 1 matchup between the Sun and Fever may go down as the best game in WNBA playoff history, you would not have been able to tell by much of the first three quarters of the game. However, with Indiana facing a 17-point deficit late in the third quarter, Anna DeForge put her team on her back and decided to turn things around. DeForge unloaded for 10 points in the final period of regulation, culminating in a trey with 20.6 seconds left in the fourth quarter to force overtime against Connecticut. Then down three in the first extra period, DeForge took a hand-off screen from Tamika Catchings and drilled a deep 3-pointer to force a second extra session. Catchings, in her first game back from injury, also provided some help. In the second extra period, with the Fever facing a two-point deficit, Catchings drained two free throws with 3.8 seconds left to force a third overtime. Indiana finally appeared to have control of the game as Tamika Whitmore scored seven consecutive points in the third extra session to give the Fever a five-point lead. That's when Nykesha Sales and the Sun finally decided they had enough. Sales scored four points in what would prove to be the final quarter of the game as Connecticut closed the contest on a 10-0 run to spoil a mircale comeback by DeForge and the Fever for a 93-88 triple-overtime win, the first in WNBA playoff history. Sales finished the game with 25 points, while Asjha Jones added 20 and 10 rebounds. Teammate Katie Douglas poured in 14 points, and swiped a WNBA playoff-record eight steals. DeForge dropped in a career-best 31 points and Catchings tallied 14 and 20 boards in the defeat. Indiana and Connecticut face off once again on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET on NBA TV. ALSO MAKING HEADLINES ... Sacramento Cruises Past San Antonio in Game 1: The Silver Stars may have narrowly beat out the Monarchs for the second seed in the West this season, but that did not deter Sacramento from showing San Antonio on Thursday just how dominant it can be. The Monarchs gave their usual strong defensive effort to keep the contest close early on. Then in the third quarter they kicked their offense into second gear, using a 13-2 run to take control of the game. Rebekkah Brunson fired off 13 of her 17 points in the second half as Sacramento controlled the pace throughout its 86-65 Game 1 triumph over the Silver Stars. Nicole Powell poured in a game-high 22 points. Sophia Young scored 20 and Becky Hammon added 16 in a losing effort. Brunson WHAT THEY'RE SAYING "You just have to keep fighting and keep believing in each other, in our effort, our system and in our game plan. We have to stick together and I think that's what we did. We executed very well and one foul or one more shot or rebound and it’s a different outcome." -- The Fever's Anna DeForge, after Indiana's 17-point comeback came up short on Thursday in a triple-overtime loss to the Sun in Game 1 of their playoff matchup. DeForge

WHO'S HOT Nykesha Sales, Sun 25 pts, 8-17 FG, 3-6 3-pt FG 93-88 win vs. Fever Anna DeForge, Fever 31 pts, 12-22 FG, 3-3 FT 93-88 loss at Sun Sophia Young, Silver Stars 20 pts, 6-12 FG, 8-8 FT 86-65 loss at Monarchs

Sales

WHO'S NOT Shanna Crossley, Silver Stars 1-8 FG, 1-4 3-pt FG, 3 pts 86-65 loss at Monarchs Katie Douglas, Sun 4-21 FG, 2-12 3-pt FG, 14 pts 93-88 win vs. Fever Ticha Penicheiro, Monarchs 3-11 FG, 0-1 3-pt FG, 10 pts 86-65 win vs. Silver Stars

Crossley

WHO'S ON TAP Friday's Games ... Shock at Liberty, 7:30 p.m. ET (NBA TV) Mercury at Storm, 10 p.m. ET (NBA TV)

Jackson