Caitlin Clark, playing in her first WNBA preseason game in an Indiana Fever uniform, nailed a deep 3-pointer for her first bucket as a professional.
Shortly after she recorded a defensive rebound, Clark knocked down a 28-foot trey with 9:12 left in the first quarter as she sank her first attempt from the floor.
Fever’s 79-76 preseason loss to the Wings.Getty Images
It was part of a night in which she scored a team-high 21 points in a 79-76 loss to the Dallas Wings in front of a sellout crowd of 6,521 at College Park Center in Dallas.
She missed a game-tying bucket from the corner at the final horn in the fourth quarter, but Clark made a strong first impression with the Fever.
“My biggest goal coming into tonight was to continue to be myself, play aggressive,” Clark said after the game, according to the Associated Press. “I thought that’s what I did. I think there’s a lot to be proud of.
“The crowd was great all night. That’s what you expect with a sellout. Those are going to be the same for the crowds all year long. So whether they’re cheering for you or cheering against you, you’d better get used to it.”
Caitlin Clark's first bucket FROM DEEP 🎯 pic.twitter.com/Dulwmx1ypN
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) May 4, 2024
She led all scorers — from both the Fever and the Wings — with 16 points in the first half.
She said it made all the difference to hit her first attempt of the night.
“I was able to get a pretty clean look for my first shot,” she said. “It’s always nice to see your first shot go in when you’re a shooter,” she said.
Caitlin Clark just isn't fair 🤣 pic.twitter.com/M7HNUN3tqL
— Heavens! (@HeavensFX) May 4, 2024
For the game, Clark went 6 of 15 from the field and 5-for-13 from 3-point land, adding three rebounds, two assists and two steals.
In limited minutes in the second half — 28 overall for the game —she scored five points.
preseason loss.Getty Images
She showed off her shooting range and her ball skills, creating a number of highlight-reel-worthy plays in what the Fever hope is a preview of what is to come in her rookie season.
Her teammate, Aliyah Boston, last year’s WNBA Rookie of the Year, said she’s excited to see all the increased eye balls on the sport this season.What do you think? Post a comment.
“This is what women’s basketball has deserved for quite some time now,” Boston said. “It’s better late than never. I’m really excited for what’s to come for this league.”
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