Caitlin Clark’s WNBA Debut Featured Expected Ups and Downs

Caitlin Clark’s WNBA debut is in the books. The No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft made a name for herself while starring at Iowa and she is now striving to become an elite player in the WNBA.

On Tuesday night, Clark and the Indiana Fever opened their season against the Connecticut Sun. Plagued by two early fouls, Clark didn’t score her first points until 5:24 remained in the second quarter. The star guard struggled shooting the ball — 5-for-15 — but led the Fever with 20 points. However, Indiana was unable to slow down the Sun and eventually lost by 21 points, 92-71.

While Clark led the team in scoring, she struggled for much of the game. Clark committed a game-high 10 turnovers — Connecticut had 15 as a team — and was -13 while on the court.

“I’m disappointed, and nobody likes to lose, but I don’t think you can beat yourself up too much about one game,” Clark said. “I don’t think that’s going to help this team. Just learn from it and move on.”

The two teams played in front of a sold out crowd. The 8,910 people in attendance gave the Sun their first home opener sellout since 2003 — the team’s first game in Connecticut. Following the loss, Clark commented on what may have led to her struggles and her first taste of WNBA action.

“I think definitely the physicality,” Clark said. “I think also just like some uncharacteristic stuff. Like, I pick up the ball and travel, I dribble off my foot, I pass it on the inbound, I turn it over. So just a few things that are just — you have to be crisper.”

Christie Sides, Indiana’s head coach, took responsibility for not easing the burden that Clark faced.

“She’s a rookie,” Sides said. “This is the best league in the world. We’ve got to teach her. We’ve got to teach her what these games are going to look like for her every single night. And we’ve got to eliminate some of that pressure for her, and that’s on me.”

Clark will make her home debut Thursday against the New York Liberty.