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WNBA No. 1 overall draft pick Caitlin Clark had mixed success in her regular season debut Tuesday night, scoring 20 points but committing 10 turnovers as her Indiana Fever lost to the Connecticut Sun 92-71.
The all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division I history is tied for the most points scored in the game with Connecticut’s DeWanna Bonner.
“Tonight, the rookie joins Maya Moore and Edna Campbell as the only players in WNBA history to total 20+ points and 4+ 15 hours in their debut,” the WNBA said of Clark in a article on X.
Clark faced 2023 league MVP finalist and Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas. The four-time Sun All-Star notched a triple-double Tuesday with 13 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds. The Suns had five players in double figures, with Bonner leading the way. Bonner had 20 points and six rebounds.
After struggling early, Clark spent much of the first quarter on the bench. Midway through the second quarter, Clark made a steal and took the ball down the court for a transition layup to score her first career WNBA points. His first three-pointer came in the final minute before halftime.
Clark picked up her pace in the second half, but the Fever were overwhelmed by the Sun team, last season’s WNBA playoff semifinalist.
Clark struggled with ball security against the Sun’s intense defensive pressure. Clark also added three assists and two steals against the Sun.
Jessica Hill/AP
Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas looks to shoot against Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark during Clark’s first WNBA game in Uncasville, Conn., Tuesday, May 14.
After the loss, Clark said she would have liked to have played better in her first match, but was looking forward to doing so in future matches this season.
“Obviously, I’m disappointed. Nobody likes to lose, that’s the way it is,” Clark said in his post-match interview.
“But I don’t think you can get too hung up on one game. I don’t think it’s going to help this team. No matter who is on this team, no one can do that with the way they played,” she said. “You just have to learn from it and move on.”
It took him a little time to adjust to the game, Clark said.
“I thought the second half was a lot better, without a few turnovers. But you just have to feel more comfortable, and that will come with experience and the opportunity to play with these girls,” she said. “And the more games I play, the more comfortable I will be.”
The Fever will be in action again Thursday in the team’s home opener against the New York Liberty at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Elsa/Getty Images
Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever dribbles against DiJonai Carrington of the Connecticut Sun during Clark’s first WNBA game in Uncasville, Connecticut, May 14.
The WNBA season began with the league’s newest star taking center stage. In WNBA general managers’ predictions for the season, Clark was voted most likely to win Rookie of the Year.
The rookie sensation, who had a historic NCAA season with the Iowa Hawkeyes, is at the forefront of a new wave of interest in women’s basketball and her arrival in the WNBA is a moment that fans have been waiting for for some time now.
More than 13,000 fans were in attendance when Clark made his preseason home debut last week in an Indiana Fever 83-80 victory over the Atlanta Dream.
The hype for Clark’s first season has reached fever pitch – for fans both local and away. On Monday, the Sun announced that its season opener against the Fever was sold out with 8,910 tickets purchased at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. The Sun last sold Mohegan Sun Arena in 2003, more than 20 years ago.
At Mohegan Sun Arena, Clark fans made their presence known with a big ovation during the player introductions and loud cheers the first time Clark touched the ball.