Caitlin Clark made her WNBA preseason debut for the Indiana Fever against the Dallas Wings, showcasing her sharpshooting skills by hitting multiple 3-pointers in front of a sold-out crowd of 7,000 fans. She scored a game-high 21 points but the Fever fell short to the Wings, with All-Star Arike Ogunbowale hitting a game-winning 3-pointer in the final seconds. Despite her efforts, Clark missed a game-tying shot at the buzzer, ending the game with 21 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals.
Clark quickly found her rhythm in the game, hitting multiple 3-pointers early on and scoring 11 of Indiana’s 19 points in the first quarter. She also displayed her playmaking abilities by setting up reigning rookie of the year Aliyah Boston for an easy layup. However, foul trouble limited her impact in the second half, as she picked up her third and fourth fouls and spent some time on the bench. She returned in the fourth quarter and hit a crucial 3-pointer to give Indiana a brief lead, but Ogunbowale’s late heroics sealed the win for Dallas.
Despite the loss, Clark’s performance in her debut was impressive, continuing her streak of 20-point games that had carried over from her college career. She shot 6 of 15 from the floor and 5 of 13 from beyond the arc, proving that she can compete at the professional level. While she still has room to improve in areas such as ball handling and turnovers, Clark’s confidence and shooting ability were on full display in her WNBA debut.
After the game, Clark reflected on the experience as a positive start to her WNBA career, emphasizing the importance of learning from the preseason game and improving on areas of weakness. She acknowledged the challenging nature of the upcoming games in the regular season but expressed confidence in her ability to adjust and adapt to the competition. The atmosphere of the game felt like a regular season contest, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting season for Indiana and its young roster.
As the Fever prepare for their next preseason game and the final roster cuts ahead of the season opener, head coach Christie Sides faces tough decisions on player rotations and lineup compositions. With several key players out due to injuries or other reasons, Clark’s leadership and scoring prowess will be vital for the team’s success moving forward. Despite challenges and tough competition in the upcoming games, Clark’s debut performance bodes well for her future in the WNBA and the potential impact she can make on the league.
