By Caitlin Clark, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 WNBA draft, had a rollercoaster of a regular season debut on Tuesday night. The all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division I history scored 20 points, tying Connecticut’s DeWanna Bonner for the game-high, but also committed 10 turnovers as her Indiana Fever lost to the Connecticut Sun 92-71.
Despite the loss, Clark made history by becoming only the third player in WNBA history, alongside Maya Moore and Edna Campbell, to record 20 or more points and four or more three-pointers in their debut game.
Clark faced off against Alyssa Thomas, the 2023 league MVP runner-up and Connecticut Sun forward. Thomas, a four-time All-Star, recorded a triple-double with 13 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds. The Sun had five players score in double figures, with Bonner leading the way with 20 points and six rebounds.
Early in the game, Clark found herself in foul trouble and spent much of the first quarter on the bench. She scored her first career WNBA points midway through the second quarter with a transition lay-up following a steal. Her first three-point bucket came in the final minute before halftime.
Clark’s performance improved in the second half, but the Fever were ultimately overwhelmed by the Sun, a semifinalist in last season’s WNBA playoffs. The rookie struggled with ball security against the Sun’s intense defensive pressure, but also contributed three assists and two steals.
In her post-game interview, Clark expressed disappointment with the loss but emphasized the importance of learning from the experience and moving forward. “Obviously I’m disappointed. Nobody likes to lose, that’s how it is,” Clark said. “But I don’t think you can beat yourself up too much about one game. I don’t think that’s going to help this team. No matter who it is on this team, no one can do that with how they played. Just learn from it and move on.”
Clark acknowledged that it took her some time to settle into the game, but felt more comfortable in the second half, despite the turnovers. She expressed optimism about the future, stating, “And the more games I play, the more comfortable I’m going to get.”
The Fever will have a chance to bounce back on Thursday in their home opener against the New York Liberty at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Clark’s WNBA debut was highly anticipated, with the rookie sensation at the forefront of a new wave of interest in women’s basketball. In the WNBA general managers’ predictions for the season, Clark was voted most likely to win Rookie of the Year.
The hype surrounding Clark’s debut was evident both at home and away. More than 13,000 fans attended her home preseason debut last week, and the Sun announced a sold-out crowd of 8,910 at Mohegan Sun Arena for the season opener against the Fever, marking their first sellout in over 20 years.
Despite the mixed results of her first regular season game, Caitlin Clark’s impact on the WNBA and the excitement surrounding her arrival in the league remain undiminished. As she continues to adjust to the pace and intensity of professional basketball, fans and analysts alike will be eager to see how her rookie season unfolds.
