Given the enthusiasm around Caitlin Clark, his debut was inevitably going to be as scrutinized as those of Victor Wembanyama seven months ago in the NBA. Faced with the Indiana Fever, the Connecticut Sun had clearly prepared a plan to prevent the new phenomenon of women's basketball from shining. Result: a clear victory (91-72) for the 2023 semi-finalists, and on an individual level, Caitlin Clark was put in difficulty.
The first choice of the 2024 Draft suffered from the first quarter, with two quick fouls which sent her to the bench. “I found it to be physical,” she admits. “Obviously it wasn't the best start from me in the first half with some foul problems, to the point of going to the bench. We had to try to get back into the rhythm of the match. Of course, I lost too many balls and that doesn't help get the job done. But there are a lot of things to take away from this match.”
Ten lost balloons!
In fact, Caitlin Clark had to wait until the second quarter to score her first points in the WNBA. After an interception, the Fever player threw herself into attack and concluded with a double-step with the board. She seemed to gain rhythm throughout the match, to the point of having a much better second half.
In the end, the former Iowa phenomenon finished the game with 20 points and a meager 5/15 on shots including 4/11 from distance and 3 assists. But it is above all his 10 lost balls which pose a problem and which constitute a sad record for a debut in the WNBA.
“It’s probably due to the physical challenge” insists Caitlin Clark. “ There were also some unusual things, like a walk, missed dribbles, losing the ball on throw-ins… There are certain things on which we need to be more precise. These are situations where we stupidly give the ball to the opposing team. And 25 turnovers really make the match difficult to win. “
Thursday evening, Caitlin Clark will play her first official match in Indiana. A first match which is already sold out against the reigning finalists, the New York Liberty.
