Caitlin Clark makes a splash in her WNBA debut her “effect” showed no signs of waning

On Friday night, Caitlin Clark made her WNBA debut with the Indiana Fever, and her “effect” didn’t seem to be abating.

Enthusiastic spectators lined up outside College Park Center in Arlington, Texas, for the preseason game against the Dallas Wings, another sellout event, to watch the NCAA’s all-time top scorer compete in her first professional game.

“Being myself, enjoying myself while playing basketball, and being aggressive was my main objective going into tonight. I thought that’s what I accomplished,” Clark remarked on Friday at a news conference following the game.
Though it was a losing game, Clark’s performance on the court on Friday was impressive, reminiscent of her time at the University of Iowa. She scored 21 points with three rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Wings prevailed 79–76.

Christie Sides, the head coach of the Fever, praised Clark’s performance but pointed out that the team as a whole, including the rookie star, was still getting used to their new surroundings.

During the news conference on Friday, Sides stated, “We’re still learning each other.”

Sides saw that Clark seemed worn out during the first quarter. In the future, the head coach hopes Clark will rely on her colleagues.
When asked what the main distinction was between collegiate and professional basketball, Clark responded.

“People are very physical, but it’s not always called.” That’s the main issue, in my opinion,” she remarked.

On May 14, Clark will play in his first regular-season game against the Connecticut Sun.

“It’s a big milestone for somebody that’s always dreamed of playing in the WNBA,” Clark stated.