ARLINGTON, Texas — In entrance of a sold-out crowd of seven,000 at UT Arlington’s Faculty Park Heart, 2024 No. 1 WNBA choose Caitlin Clark made her unofficial skilled debut Friday night, scoring 21 factors within the Fever’s slim 79-76 defeat by the hands of the Dallas Wings.
Newcomers might have come out to catch a glimpse of Clark, however Dallas guard Arike Ogunbowale ensured the hometown workforce got here up on high, ending the competition on a private 7-0 run and sinking a game-winning, step-back 3-pointer with 3.0 seconds to play.
It’s a big day for sports activities within the Metroplex. In downtown Dallas the NBA’s Mavericks host a probably series-clinching first-round matchup in opposition to the LA Clippers. The NHL’s Stars may do the identical with a win in Las Vegas. Many followers filtered to Arlington with indicators for Clark or carrying No. 22.
Regardless of being from the visiting workforce, the NCAA’s all-time main scorer acquired a thunderous cheer as she was launched as a part of the Fever’s beginning 5, as did fellow former No. 1 choose Aliyah Boston.
Twenty-five miles away from the place Clark’s fame took off within the spring of 2023 with a mesmerizing Last 4 run with the Hawkeyes, the rookie sensation hit her first two shot makes an attempt of her professional profession, each 3-pointers — the primary with Wings followers nonetheless on their ft ready for the hometown squad to get on the board.
Clark scored 11 of Indiana’s first 19 factors earlier than ending with 16 within the first half, highlighted by a stepback 3-pointer in opposition to veteran Natasha Howard. She went scoreless within the third quarter and sat on the bench for a lot of the body after selecting up her third and fourth fouls in fast succession.
Upon re-entering the sport within the fourth, Clark hit one other 3-pointer, her fifth of the night time and located Boston for an help on the pick-and-roll. Her “welcome to the WNBA” second got here with the sport tied and fewer than 30 seconds to play. Howard blocked her layup try — her remaining shot on the buzzer in an effort to tie the sport fell brief.
Clark completed with 21 factors (6 for 15 capturing, 5 for 13 from 3), 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 5 turnovers.
Rookie Jaelyn Brown (21 factors) and Ogunbowale (19) paced the Wings.
The Fever are hoping Clark and the remainder of their younger core, which incorporates Boston and 2022 No. 2 choose NaLyssa Smith, will raise the franchise to its first postseason berth since 2016, franchise- and league-great Tamika Catchings’ remaining season earlier than her retirement.
Indiana has a remaining tune-up Thursday in opposition to the Atlanta Dream in Indianapolis earlier than taking up the Connecticut Solar on the highway Could 14 of their common season opener.