VIDEO: Caitlin Clark makes home debut in Indiana Fever preseason game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse

VIDEO: Caitlin Clark makes home debut in Indiana Fever preseason game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Video here:

Caitlin Clark packs house for home preseason debut with Fever

Caitlin Clark-mania officially got underway on Thursday night in Indianapolis as the new face of the WNBA made her home debut in the Fever’s preseason win over the Atlanta Dream at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Clark finished with 12 points, including a big 3-pointer late in the third quarter that helped extend what would become an 83-80 victory in front of 13,028 fans in the Fever’s only home game this preseason.

The No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft logged 31 minutes, while pulling down eight boards, recording six assists and blocking a shot, while shooting 4-of-12 from the field and 2-of-9 from 3-point range.

Caitlin Clark, who scored 12 points, makes a pass during the Fever's 83-80 preseason win over the Dream.

Caitlin Clark, who scored 12 points, makes a pass during the Fever’s 83-80 preseason win over the Dream.Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK
The most impressive moment for Clark came when she hit one of her signature deep 3’s with 2:14 left in the third quarter.

Clark stepped up and shot the ball just in front of a logo for Gainbridge Fieldhouse on the side of the court and launched the deep 3 that fell for the basket.

She also had another 3, which did not count, moments later that took a wacky bounce off the shot clock and went in.

In the first quarter, Clark made another impressive play when she essentially went end-to-end and drove through four Dream defenders in the paint to score on a layup.

Though the game didn’t count, it was another memorable moment in the history of the Fever and the WNBA as fans packed the Indianapolis arena for their first chance to see Clark play on her new home court.

Caitlin Clark signs autographs for fans after the Fever's preseason win over the Dream.
Caitlin Clark signs autographs for fans after the Fever’s preseason win over the Dream.Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

And Clark has already been feeling the love from her new fans.

“People definitely know who I am,” Clark said before the game, according to The Associated Press. “Sometimes it’s hard to go out and do what I want to do, but at the same time, I wouldn’t want it any other way. That’s the best way to grow women’s basketball. That’s the best way to get these fans excited about what we’re going to do here, so I think people they are just as excited as we are to play here. So I think more than anything, enjoy it, soak it in.”

There were plenty of special guests on hand on Thursday night as well, with Pacers star Lance Stephenson taking in the action.

Iowa teammate Gabbie Marshall was also courtside to support Clark in her first home game as a pro.

The two posed for a picture together after the game and shared a hug.

The Fever begin their season on the road in Connecticut against the Sun next Tuesday.

Two days later, they will play their first regular-season home game against the New York Liberty.

HOT NEWS: 

ANGEL REESE HITS KAMILLA CARDOSO WITH IMPRESSIVE ASSIST IN WNBA PRESEASON GAME

Angel Reese hits Kamilla Cardoso with impressive assist in WNBA preseason game

It didn’t take long for Chicago Sky first round picks Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso to show off their chemistry. During the Sky’s preseason matchup against the Minnesota Lynx, Reese threw a sneaky dime to a cutting Cardoso for a wide-open layup.

The Sky selected Cardoso with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. The organization drafted Reese only four picks later. If Friday night is any indication, the front court duo could be a headache for opponents for years to come.

It may take a while for Reese and Cardoso to get used to wearing the same jersey. Although they are teammates now, they waged war against each other for two years in the SEC. This past season, South Carolina and LSU faced off twice. Cardoso and her fellow Gamecocks walked away with a win on both occasions.

The last time the two storied programs met was in the SEC Tournament Championship. In the heated battle, Reese tallied 15 points and 13 rebounds. For the Gamecocks, Cardoso notched eight points, six rebounds and three blocks.

While Cardoso was a higher pick in the WNBA Draft, Reese boasted equally impressive collegiate accomplishments. The Baltimore native was the 2024 SEC Player of the Year and the 2023 Final Four Most Outstanding Player.

A bright future for Angel Reese & Kamilla Cardoso

After the WNBA Draft, South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley weighed in on the Chicago Sky’s decision to pair the unlikely duo.

“Kamilla is the ultimate competitor,” Staley said. “Angel Reese — ultimate competitor. We had a lot of battles, last year and this year. We were the top-2 teams in the SEC, so you know they are enemies by nature because of rivalry.

“But now, they’re joined hands in hopefully bringing a WNBA championship to Chicago. I’m a fan. I’m gonna get me some season tickets. I know I won’t be there the entire season. But somebody’s gonna be sitting in my seats cheering Kamilla Cardoso on.”

Staley isn’t the only one excited to see Reese and Cardoso compete at the next level. Ahead of the WNBA Draft, ESPN’s Andraya Carter raved about Reese’s potential on women’s basketball’s biggest stage.

“Spending time watching Angel in practice sometimes, Angel’s a thinker,” Carter said. “She likes to think the game, she likes to learn the game. I actually think she would do really well learning from veterans and listening and doing whatever the team needed.

“But I think the rebounding immediately would be something that would translate. The rebounding and energy, for Angel.”

HOT NEWS: 

CAITLIN CLARK POST GAME INTERVIEW AFTER 21PTS IN WNBA PRESEASON DEBUT. INDIANA FEVER VS DALLAS WINGS

Caitlin Clark Post Game Interview After 21pts In WNBA Preseason Debut. Indiana Fever vs Dallas Wings.

Video below!

Caitlin Clark just sank her first basket as a member of the Indiana Fever on Friday

Caitlin Clark’s WNBA career is off and running. During the Indiana Fever’s preseason game against the Dallas Wings on Friday, Clark scored her first points in a way that many expected — a long three pointer.

Coming off a screen during an inbound play, the number-one overall pick found herself open on the left wing and fired her first ever attempt in a Fever jersey. The ball found the bottom of the net, much to the delight of the crowd.

And to note, the Fever don’t even have home court advantage here. The game is currently being played in College Park Center, the arena that the Wings call home. So to have fans cheering for Caitlin Clark is a testament to her foreseeable impact on the league as a whole.

Unless one has been living under a rock, any person who calls himself a basketball fan would know that Clark has been at the forefront of women’s basketball lately.

Her run with Iowa during the recently concluded NCAA March Madness tournament drew plenty of attention from the general public, especially during the late stages of the tourney.

Clark’s games against LSU, UConn and South Carolina brought in record-breaking views, while the 6-foot guard herself has become a celebrated figure all across the country.

It’s no surprise as to why. Her ability to shoot the basketball was arguably second to none among all her peers at the collegiate level. Clark has broken records and has produced scoring feats that put her in the NCAA GOAT conversation.