Caitlin Clark struggles in WNBA debut as Connecticut Sun dominate Indiana Fever

The Connecticut Sun’s stifling defense torpedoed the highly anticipated professional basketball debut of Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark.

Clark, a two-time national college player of the year, struggled for much of her first WNBA regular season game as Clark worked through each of her games. 20 points in Connecticut’s convincing 92-71 victory.

“There’s a lot to learn; it’s the first time,” Clark told reporters after the game. “There will be good ones, and there will be bad ones.”

In the Sun’s first sold-out home opener since 2003, fans at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville shared their allegiance by cheering on both the home team and Clark during the Sun’s most famous professional introduction the history of women’s basketball.

The building roared as Clark drilled each of his four 3-pointers, but the highlights were hard to come by. Connecticut forced her into a game-high 10 turnovers, among 25 Fever giveaways, and limited her to just three assists.

“Obviously, too many turnovers — it’s not going to get the job done,” Clark said. “There’s a lot to learn.”

She added: “I wish I played a little better tonight.”

She committed two contact fouls in the first quarter, leading to an early bench break. And when she was on the field, Connecticut’s DiJonai Carrington and his teammates gave Clark, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft, little room to operate.

Clark didn’t score his first points until 5:24 remained in the second quarter. She took a bit more of an offensive stance in the second half, scoring 13 points after intermission.

But turnovers remained a problem, with five giveaways in each half.

“I thought it took me a little while to settle into the game,” Clark said. “I thought the second half was a lot better, without some of the turnovers.”

Fever coach Christie Sides said Clark was not responsible for the 10 turnovers.

“We have to help him. We have to do a better job of getting back to the ball,” Sides said.

Carrington insisted Clark’s defensive lockdown Tuesday was just another day at the office, no matter the national spotlight that shone on Mohegan Sun Arena.

“That’s what they expect from me every night, whether it’s Caitlin or whoever we’re playing,” she said. “That’s the expectation. That’s the norm.”

Sides said she was confident Clark would be able to match the size and speed of elite defenders like Carrington.

The Sun “had a game plan against her, and it’s just going to take her a while to figure out that speed and quickness and physicality,” Sides said. “We try to replicate it and imitate it as much as possible in our practices with our practice guys. But it’s just not the same.”

Carrington’s good play was only marred by leg cramps which sent her to the locker room for part of the second half.

“I need to hydrate better, so that’s on me – less coffee,” she said with a laugh.

Meanwhile, Connecticut veteran DeWanna Bonner scored 20 points and moved into 5th place on the WNBA’s all-time scoring list.

Indiana is pinning its hopes on Clark as it looks to improve on its conference-worst 13-27 record last season.

The Fever’s home opener is Thursday against last year’s WNBA runner-up, the New York Liberty, at 7 p.m. ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

This game will be streamed on Amazon Prime and broadcast locally on NBC affiliate WTHR in Indianapolis and WWOR in and around New York.