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Caitlin Clark made her WNBA debut at home in front of 17,274 fans against the New York Liberty at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Thursday (May. 16). The guard was introduced to a cheering crowd against New York Liberty but had a forgettable outing.
Clark recorded just nine points on 2-8 shooting and added seven rebounds and six assists as the Liberty trounced Indiana 102-66, marking the second loss for the Fever in as many games.
Caitlin Clark said that she struggled to match the pace the Liberty played with. She also added that she was being pushed off the ball, something she needs to improve. The nine-point effort comes as a rude shock to the rookie who had 20 against the Connecticut Sun in Indiana's season opener.
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Clark also had challenges on the defensive end and was guilty of getting into foul trouble, which seemed to affect her aggressive approach to the game. She finished with five personal fouls for the night against the Liberty.
Caitlin Clark's learning curve begins in the WNBA
Caitlin Clark and her staggering stats have always been talking points since her college days.
The 22-year-old scored 3,591 points in college, surpassing any other player in the history of college basketball. She also had 1,144 assists and bagged 990 rebounds. She also took the honors for the two-time National Player of the Year.
However, in the WNBA, Clark is up against seasoned pros and players who have had a taste of action. The expectations for Clark to become a well-rounded superstar in the initial days of her new season are high, but unreasonable at best, as she's yet to play nine other teams in the league who would pose a more stern challenge.
There was improvement, though, as she had only three turnovers compared to 10 she had in her debut game. There were also early glimpses of what she was capable of, as she went on the offensive with seven points in over 70 seconds. She also drained her signature 3, which shows that she's WIP as the season begins with high hopes for her and the Fever.
Up next, Caitlin Clark and the Fever will gear up for another matchup with the Liberty — this time in New York on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. ET, and the game will be televised live on ABC.
