Caitlin Clark makes a remarkable debut in the WNBA: 'Plenty to take pride in'.

In front of a packed crowd of 6,251 at UT Arlington's College Park Center in Arlington, Texas, Caitlin Clark, the 2024 No. 1 pick, made her WNBA preseason debut on Friday evening, scoring 21 points for the Indiana Fever in a close 79-76 loss to the Dallas Wings.


The NCAA's all-time leading scorer wasted no time, contributing 11 of Indiana's first 19 points and finishing the first half with 16 points, showcasing her skills with a notable step-back 3-pointer against veteran Natasha Howard. However, she faced some challenges in the third quarter, going scoreless and spending significant time on the bench after accumulating her third and fourth fouls quickly.

Upon returning to the game in the fourth quarter, Clark demonstrated her resilience, sinking another 3-pointer, her fifth of the night, and setting up Aliyah Boston for a pick-and-roll assist. Despite a notable "welcome to the WNBA" moment when Howard blocked her layup attempt with less than 30 seconds remaining and the game tied, Clark's performance stood out.


Her 21 points, scored on 6-for-15 shooting (with 5-for-13 from 3-point range), tied with Dallas rookie Jaelyn Brown for the game high. Additionally, Clark contributed 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals, but also had 5 turnovers. NaLyssa Smith added 20 points for the Fever.

Reflecting on her debut, Clark expressed pride in her aggressive play, stating, "My biggest goal coming into tonight was to continue to be myself, play aggressive. I thought that's what I did. I think there's a lot to be proud of."


While fans came to witness Clark's debut, it was Dallas guard Arike Ogunbowale who stole the show, scoring the final seven points for Dallas and sinking a game-winning step-back 3-pointer with 3.0 seconds remaining. Despite Clark's valiant efforts, her last-second shot attempt to tie the game fell short.


The game took place amidst a vibrant sports atmosphere in the Metroplex, with the NBA's Mavericks clinching a first-round series victory against the LA Clippers, and the NHL's Stars battling in their own first-round Game 6 in Las Vegas. Despite being from the visiting team, Clark received a warm reception from the crowd, showcasing the enthusiasm for women's basketball in the area.

As Clark continues her WNBA journey, she acknowledges the learning curve and the need to adjust to the league's physicality. With a young core including Boston and Smith, the Fever are aiming for their first postseason appearance since 2016.


Overall, Clark remains optimistic, focusing on the positives from the preseason game while looking ahead to the regular season opener against the Connecticut Sun on May 14.

Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.




Pacers' victory prompts the Fever to advance Clark's debut.

Caitlin Clark's preseason home debut with the Indiana Fever has been rescheduled to a day earlier than initially planned, announced Fever officials on Friday.

Originally set for May 10 against the Atlanta Dream, the game will now take place on Thursday due to a scheduling conflict arising from the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks advancing to the Eastern Conference semifinals of the NBA playoffs. Both teams secured Game 6 victories on Thursday night, prompting the NBA to schedule Game 3 between the Pacers and Knicks at Indiana's Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 10 at 7 p.m. — coinciding with the Fever's original game time.


As both the Pacers and Fever share the same venue, the rescheduled game will honor tickets with the May 10 date, and will be broadcasted on the WNBA app.

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Clark's debut with the Fever will still occur on Friday night in Dallas. The team's regular season opener is set for May 14 against the Connecticut Sun, followed by their first home game on May 16 against the New York Liberty.


Adjustments will be made by the NBA if the Pacers and Knicks extend their series to at least six games, allowing for an extra day of rest. As per the current schedule, Game 6 is slated for May 17 in Indianapolis, with one day off between every other game in the series.

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