Caitlin Clark struggles in first home game, as Indiana Fever lose to New York Liberty, 102–66
A sellout crowd of 17,424 filled Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis to see Caitlin Clark’s home debut for the Indiana Fever against the New York Liberty, last season’s WNBA Eastern Conference champions.
Unfortunately, Clark struggled in her second WNBA game, scoring only nine points in front of the home crowd. She shot 2-for-8 from the field (including 1-for-7 on three-pointers), but added seven rebounds and six assists in a 102–66 loss to the one of the best teams in the league.
Reigning WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart was the player who put on a show, scoring 31 points to lead the Liberty. Stewart completely overmatched Indiana’s frontcourt, shooting 12-for-21 from the field while grabbing 10 rebounds with four assists.
Sabrina Ionescu finished with 14 points for New York with seven rebounds. Jonquel Jones added 14 points, 10 rebounds and four assists, while Betnijah Laney-Hamilton scored 12.
New York improved to 2–0 for the season, while Indiana dropped to 0–2.
Video: Caitlin Clark’s FIRST Three At Home | Indiana Fever vs New York Liberty
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The home sellout was the Fever’s first since October 2012 when they played in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals. The crowd was also the second-best for a home opener in franchise history (behind 18,345 in 2003) and the third-largest attendance for a regular season game (17,704 in 2016).
Clark never shook off a slow start
Unfortunately, Clark didn’t provide the home fans much to cheer about in the first half. She scored only two points on 1-for-5 shooting (and 0–for-4 on three-pointers) and committed three turnovers, while facing tough defense from the Liberty’s Courtney Vandersloot and Ivana Dojkic. However, Clark did add four rebounds and five assists.
Aliyah Boston led the Fever with 12 points and seven rebounds in a tough matchup with Jones. Katie Lou Samuelson added 10.
Up next for Clark and the Fever is another matchup with the Liberty, this one in New York on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. ET and the game will be televised on ABC.
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Indiana Fever vs. Chicago Sky rivalry is gift that will keep on giving for WNBA
CHICAGO — WNBA Finals aside, this was the league’s biggest game since, well, ever.
No disrespect to other exceptional games there’ve been over the years. But the Indiana Fever’s first visit to the Chicago Sky since Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso were drafted gave a glimpse of the league’s future, and it is tremendous.
It was a heck of a game, first of all, the Sky winning 88-87 after the Fever missed a potential game-winners with two seconds left. Reese had her best performance as a pro with 25 points and 16 rebounds. Cardoso showed what a problem she’s going to be once she gets her timing down, disrupting the Fever’s offense time and again, including a redirection of a Clark pass that led to a Reese layup that put the Sky on top for good.
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And Clark? Well, we already knew all she does is set records and she did it again Sunday. Her 13 assists, to go with 17 points, was a single-game Fever record.
But the best part of the day was the atmosphere of this game. It was electric, the kind of energy this city hasn’t seen for a professional basketball game since the Jordan years. Wintrust Arena was sold out, and there were lines snaking around the building well before the doors opened. There were celebs sitting courtside. Fans were into it from the opening tip, their cheers downright deafening over the last two minutes.
The game was nationally televised, too, on ESPN. Which likely means more blockbuster ratings in a year that’s already seen a lot of them.
“It’s good for the game. Good for women’s basketball but also good for women’s sports,” Reese said afterward. “Everybody’s watching right now. I think it’s just one of the most important times, right, and we just continue to keep putting on – I think both teams tonight did an amazing job of putting on a show. It was fun.”
Anyone who says differently is being a contrarian. Or a Neanderthal.
The WNBA has always had talented players. Maybe not the depth of it that there is now, but talent nonetheless. There have been some captivating Finals, too. Think the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty last year. The Houston Comets and the Liberty back in the day. Heck, Diana Taurasi’s Phoenix Mercury and … everyone.
What the league has lacked are the fierce regular-season rivalries. Not the personal animosity and cat fighting that some ignorant and ill-intentioned people are trying to stoke. But heated battles that deliver every time the teams meet, with the biggest stars bringing out the best in one another.
Caitlin Clark’s FIRST Three At Home | Indiana Fever vs New York Liberty