Caitlin Clark played in her first game for the Indiana Fever in nine months on Saturday after injuries derailed her second season and limited her to 13 games.
The WNBA star received a warm ovation from the crowd when she was introduced in the starting lineup for the Fever’s preseason game against the New York Liberty in Brooklyn.
‘This isn’t a real game, I understand that, but that’s how we treat it, like a real game,’ Clark said before the Fever’s 109-91 win.
‘I think anytime you get to put on your uniform and lace up your shoes you don’t take that for granted, especially after coming off last year when I didn’t get to do that very much.’
Clark said she had some nerves, but they didn’t show early. She scored the first basket of the game and then a couple of possessions later hit her signature step-back 3-pointer from deep.
After making her first two shots, Clark missed her final eight of the game. She ended with seven points, four assists and three rebounds in just under 17 minutes of play.
Caitlin Clark played her first game for the Indiana Fever in nine months on Saturday afternoon
Clark ended with seven points, four assists and three rebounds in just under 17 minutes of play
Clark chats with Sabrina Ionescu in a break in play as both teams prepare for the new season
‘Get out there, run around, you know, it’s going to be a little sloppy for both teams,’ she said. ‘That’s kind of what preseason games are.’
Fever coach Stephanie White noticed a difference in Clark this preseason as opposed to her first two in the league.
‘I think that’s the thing, watching her play with joy,’ White said. ‘In practice her energy is different, carrying herself in a different way.’
This wasn’t Clark’s first basketball game since suffering a season-ending injury last July. She played for USA Basketball in a World Cup qualifying tournament last month and earned Most Valuable Player honors.
‘She was itchy and antsy before training camp started,’ said White, who coached her in USA Basketball as well. ‘Glad she had those games with USA Basketball and came into training camp having played. Now it’s fine tuning.’
While Clark played, a few of the Fever’s others didn’t. Aliyah Boston was out while still recovering from a lower-leg injury. Lexie Hull is also working her way through a hamstring issue. White said both would have played if it was a regular-season game.
The Fever were also without Ty Harris and Damiris Dantas, who is not with the team yet.
