May 14, 2024

Caitlin Clark's ready for her WNBA regular-season debut as Fever take on Connecticut

Associated Press

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) drives on Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray (15) during the first half of a preseason WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Thursday, May 9, 2024.
*Darron Cummings / AP Photo*

Caitlin Clark's much anticipated WNBA debut is set for Tuesday night in Connecticut.

The No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft is coming off a record-setting college career at Iowa.

“This is what you’ve worked for and dreamed of. Now you get to put your jersey on for the first real time and go out there and play,” Clark said. “We get to play on the biggest stage, there’s gonna be a lot of people there, it’s gonna be loud. But you only play your first WNBA game once. I think I just want to enjoy it. It’s gonna be competitive. They’re really good, so you’ve got to prep the right way, too. More than anything, we’re ready for the challenge.”

Even before playing a WNBA game, Clark has left her mark in the pros. The league's draft had record viewership, and her No. 22 Indiana Fever jerseys have been flying off the shelves.

Three WNBA teams have already moved their games to bigger arenas to keep up with the demand for tickets to watch her play. Her debut in Connecticut is sold out — the first sellout for the Sun in a season opener since they played their inaugural game at Mohegan Sun Arena in 2003 after moving from Orlando.

This will be the second sold-out crowd Clark will play in front of in her extremely young WNBA career. Her preseason game in Dallas was sold out, too. Over 13,000 fans also turned up for her only home preseason game.

Clark's home debut will be Thursday, when the Fever host the New York Liberty.

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Caitlin Clark rallies Fever past Liberty 83-78 with first triple-double by WNBA rookie

Caitlin Clark posted the first triple-double by a rookie in WNBA history to rally Indiana to an 83-78 victory over New York on Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, snapping the Fever's nine-game losing streak to the Liberty. Clark finished with 19 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds for Indiana (9-13). Aliyah Boston finished with 18 points on 8-for-12 shooting and had eight rebounds for the Fever. Sabrina Ionescu scored 22 to lead New York, which had won five straight games. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton added 20 points, Clark, the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft, was one rebound shy of a triple-double two games ago in an 88-82 road victory over the Phoenix Mercury.