Raucous crowd roars its approval for Caitlin Clark in her home debut with Fever, an 83-80 win
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) is introduced before the team’s preseason WNBA basketball game against the Atlanta Dream in Indianapolis, Thursday, May 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark wipes her face after hitting a shot and being fouled by the Atlanta Dream during the first half of a preseason WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Thursday, May 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
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. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark, left, gives autographs as she arrives on the Red Carpet before the world premiere and screening of Episode 1 of the upcoming ESPN+ Original Series Full Court Press, Monday, May 6, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
CORRECTS FROM CAITLYN TO CAITLIN – Indiana Fever head coach Christine Sides, left, talks to Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) as they play the Dallas Wings during the first half of an WNBA basketball game in Arlington, Texas, Friday, May 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
FILE – Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, left, poses for a photo with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, right, after being selected first overall by the Indiana Fever during the first round of the WNBA basketball draft, April 15, 2024, in New York. The wait for full-time charter flights for WNBA teams finally is over with commissioner Engelbert announcing Tuesday, May 7, the league’s plans to start the program this season. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)
Young fans wait for Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark to arrive on the Red Carpet before the world premiere and screening of Episode 1 of the upcoming ESPN+ Original Series Full Court Press, Monday, May 6, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark arrives on the Red Carpet before the world premiere and screening of Episode 1 of the upcoming ESPN+ Original Series Full Court Press, Monday, May 6, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
From left to right, Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark, UCLA’s Kiki Rice and Chicago Sky’s Kamilla Cardoso arrive on the Red Carpet before the world premiere and screening of Episode 1 of the upcoming ESPN+ Original Series Full Court Press, Monday, May 6, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark reacts after a teammate’s basket against the Atlanta Dream during the first half of a preseason WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Thursday, May 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark (22) puts up a 3-point shot in front of Atlanta Dream’s Naz Hillmon during the second half of a WNBA preseason basketball game Thursday, May 9, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark (22) goes to the basket against Atlanta Dream’s Nia Coffey (12) and Aerial Powers (23) during the second half of a WNBA preseason basketball game Thursday, May 9, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark (22) looks to pass the ball as Atlanta Dream’s Naz Hillmon defends during the second half of a WNBA preseason basketball game Thursday, May 9, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark (22) is congratulated by Temi Fagbenle (14) after Clark hit a 3-point shot against the Atlanta Dream during the second half of a WNBA preseason basketball game Thursday, May 9, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
BY MICHAEL MAROT
Updated 9:45 AM 10/5/2024, May 10, 2024
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Caitlin Clark walked into her new home arena Thursday night with No. 22 shirts and jerseys peppered from floor to ceiling.
She left as a first-time WNBA winner.
A late-arriving but louder-than-usual crowd roared during her official introduction to Fever fans and again when Clark made her first basket, a layup with 7:00 left in the first quarter. The cheers grew when she completed a three-point play a few minutes later and hit a crescendo when she finally made a long 3-pointer from the edge of the fieldhouse logo late in the third quarter.
Yes, Clark successfully navigated the city’s most anticipated rookie debut since Peyton Manning played for the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts in 1998 even though it wasn’t quite the start most expected.
In an 83-80 preseason victory over the Atlanta Dream, Clark had 12 points, eight rebounds, six assists and six turnovers, going 4 of 12 from the field and 2 of 9 on 3s in 31 minutes.
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“It was a lot of fun, I thought they were loud, I thought they were into it. It was fun to see,” Clark said following her home debut. “This is a preseason game on a Thursday night and there’s 13,000 people here. I think that just shows you what it’s going to be like for us all season. It’s going to help us.”
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