Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) drives previous Dallas Wings ahead Natasha Howard (6) throughout their WNBA basketball recreation in Arlington, Texas, on Friday.
Michael Ainsworth/AP
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Michael Ainsworth/AP
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) drives previous Dallas Wings ahead Natasha Howard (6) throughout their WNBA basketball recreation in Arlington, Texas, on Friday.
Michael Ainsworth/AP
Caitlin Clark made her WNBA debut with the Indiana Fever on Friday night time — and her “effect” confirmed no indicators of waning.
The preseason recreation towards the Dallas Wings was one other sellout match with enthusiastic followers lining up exterior College Park Center in Arlington, Texas, to observe the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer play in her first skilled recreation.
“My biggest goal coming into tonight was being myself, have fun playing basketball, be aggressive. Thought that’s what I did,” Clark mentioned Friday in a post-game press convention.
Similar to her time on the University of Iowa, Clark shined Friday on the courtroom — scoring 21 factors with three rebounds, two assists, two steals, regardless of it being a shedding match. The Wings received 79-76.
Fever head coach Christie Sides applauded Clark’s efficiency however famous that the rookie star and the remainder of the staff had been nonetheless in an adjustment interval.
“We’re still learning each other,” Sides mentioned Friday on the press convention.
Sides famous that in the primary quarter, Clark appeared fatigued. The head coach mentioned she hopes Clark will lean on her teammates in the long run.
Clark was requested what the most important distinction was between skilled and school basketball.
“Everybody’s super physical, it doesn’t always get called. I would say that’s the biggest thing,” she mentioned.
Clark’s debut in a regular-season recreation shall be towards the Connecticut Sun on May 14.
“It’s a big milestone for somebody that’s always dreamed of playing in the WNBA,” Clark mentioned.