UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Because the seconds ticked down earlier than her first WNBA recreation started, Caitlin Clark couldn’t cease transferring. Ready for the opening soar, she paced alongside the free throw line. She tugged at her shorts and glued her ponytail. She swung her arms in an try to remain free.
Then the ref tossed the orange and white WNBA basketball, however officers deemed it wanted to be thrown a second time. In contrast to the official’s toss, Clark won’t desire a full redo of her debut. Nonetheless, there have been positively moments she’s going to need again from a combined particular person efficiency and, in the end, a disappointing loss.
She led the Indiana Fever with 20 factors, but she additionally notched 10 turnovers — probably the most ever in a participant’s first WNBA recreation.
“I didn’t have the best begin, so I feel (there’s) only a lot to study from,” Clark stated. “There’s gonna be good ones. There’s gonna be unhealthy ones.”
Caitlin Clark scored her first skilled factors with 5:24 to play within the first half, hitting a layup. @TheAthleticWBB pic.twitter.com/BqamXt3GBj
— Ben Pickman (@benpickman) Could 15, 2024
She rewrote the document ebook over 4 years at Iowa, usually making the toughest matchups and most troublesome photographs appear like a breeze. Tuesday’s inglorious document was not anticipated. Simply over a month has handed since Clark’s school profession concluded, however life within the WNBA is right here. If a reminder was wanted, she confirmed within the Fever’s 92-71 defeat to the Connecticut Solar that she’ll, at occasions, have rising pains as she transitions into the skilled ranks.
“She’s a rookie on this league,” Fever coach Christie Sides stated. “That is the very best league on the earth. We’ve acquired to show her what these video games are gonna appear like for her each single evening and we’ve acquired to get rid of a few of that strain for her. That’s on me, that’s on my employees to have to determine.”
All eyes are on Clark as she makes an attempt to leap to the professionals with excessive expectations to not simply carry out like she did in school however invigorate the league in a manner no participant has earlier than. Tuesday’s season tipoff was in entrance of the Solar’s first home-opener sellout since 2003, and he or she’ll make her dwelling debut in entrance of one other raucous crowd Thursday. At Connecticut, a whole bunch, maybe 1000’s, of followers wore No. 22 T-shirts with Iowa and Fever logos on them to have a good time Clark. (At one level, a “bandwagon fan” graphic appeared on the Solar video board whereas displaying a lot of them on the display screen.) Followers with “Clark Fever” shirts began wandering the Mohegan Solar on line casino ground hours earlier than the night tipoff. The sport’s tv score is bound to be far greater than final season’s openers.
It’s a scene Clark witnessed at almost each recreation throughout her senior season at Iowa.
“I performed in sold-out crowds actually each single recreation, so these environments don’t scare me or impression me in any respect,” she stated Tuesday morning. “I’m positive there will probably be identical to a number of basketball followers right here that basically admire the sport.”
the followers are displaying out in Connecticut tonight 🙌 pic.twitter.com/7CECWVIFSJ
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) Could 14, 2024
But even with that familiarity, on the morning of probably the most extremely anticipated rookie debut in WNBA historical past, she tried to mood expectations.
“I do know the surface world thinks I’m gonna do some wonderful issues, however which may take a while,” Clark stated. “And if issues aren’t good instantly or one recreation’s not as wonderful as I need it to be, give your self grace, proceed to study, proceed to get higher from it.”
Nearly instantly, Clark was welcomed to the WNBA by one of many world’s finest gamers. Lower than two minutes in, Solar star ahead Alyssa Thomas attacked Clark in transition, forcing the 6-foot guard right into a foul. After selecting up two fouls, Clark ended the primary quarter scoreless. She admitted regaining her movement was robust after sitting some early.
Clark had stated “it might be good” for her first profession basket to return on a layup, however she couldn’t have envisioned ready till the 5:24 mark of the second quarter to attain. As she walked to the locker room at halftime, trailing by 10 factors, reigning Rookie of the 12 months Aliyah Boston grabbed Clark’s consideration.
“(Boston) stated simply be calm, be aggressive and be you,” Clark stated.
Clark made some uncharacteristic errors, selecting up the basketball and touring, dribbling it off her foot and throwing an errant inbounds move. She has room to enhance defensively, as effectively. Taking part in an skilled opponent, Connecticut’s physicality made a distinction. Sides stated Indiana was “punched within the mouth.”
Clark finally settled in, making the most of switches. She hit a late fourth-quarter 3-pointer over Solar heart Olivia Nelson-Ododa on a shot paying homage to her time with the Hawkeyes. Nonetheless, the Fever performed your complete evening in catch-up mode, trailing for the sport’s closing 34 minutes. A stretch within the fourth quarter by which Thomas guarded Clark offered one other knowledge level that Clark’s competitors degree had elevated.
GO DEEPER
What we realized in Caitlin Clark’s WNBA debut
There’s loads of tape for Clark to devour now, and never a lot time to do it. Sides confused that Indiana’s spacing was poor, and that it wants to search out methods to get Boston simpler appears to be like (she tried solely six photographs and scored simply 4 factors). Clark’s teammates need to do a greater job of coming again to the ball on her passes. Reducing down on turnovers — the Fever had 25 — may even be crucial.
Alternatives to indicate speedy development will come quickly and sometimes. Indiana opens the season with seven video games in 12 days. The New York Liberty await Thursday evening, one other stiff problem in a run of them.
Some performances will inevitably pale compared to others. A Clark masterclass will certainly come earlier than later. However Tuesday emphasised what her new competitors is like. How she responds will probably be her largest problem.
“Dissatisfied and no person likes to lose, that’s how it’s,” Clark stated. “Can’t beat your self up an excessive amount of about one recreation.”
(Picture: Elsa / Getty Pictures)
