With the WBNA soon to kick off, teams are getting their pre-season matches in to blood new players and experiment with strategies. Much of the attention is already on the record-breaking former college basketball star Caitlin Clark, who was the No. 1 draft pick for Indiana Fever. She made a strong start to her career, scoring 21 points, but it could not prevent a defeat to the Dallas Wings.
Caitlin Clark scored 21 points in an impressive debut as her Indiana Fever side lost 79-76 on Friday night to the Dallas Wings in a pre-season match-up.
The popularity of the former college player was demonstrated by the sold-out crowd at the UT Arlington College Park Center.
Clark had been the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft after a record-breaking start in college basketball, and she is the NCAA leading scorer.
She dominated from the off, with 11 of her team’s first 19 points, and she also landed an impressive three-pointer as she finished the first half on 16 points.
After reaching four fouls in the match she sat out much of the third period, but upon her return she scored her fifth three-pointer and gave a strong all-round performance, though it was not enough to prevent her team losing.
Her 21 points was joint-highest for the match, alongside Jaelyn Brown, another rookie and also her opponent on the other team.
“My biggest goal coming into tonight was to continue to be myself, play aggressive,” Clark said. “I thought that’s what I did. I think there’s a lot to be proud of.
“You couldn’t ask for a better game, really, for women’s basketball to kick off this [WNBA] year.
“A tremendous game coming down to the wire, both teams competing. That’s going to be the story of the entire year.
“I was able to get a pretty clean look for my first shot. It’s always nice to see your first shot go in when you’re a shooter.”
Fever coach Christie Sides said the youngster was still getting used to the demands of the professional game.
“She works really hard to get some shots that she doesn’t have to work as hard for anymore,” she said.
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