Caitlin Clark silences the doubters as she dazzles in WNBA preseason debut with impressive 21 points for Fever but can’t find the game winner as Arike Ogunbowale’s last-gasp three-pointer snatches win for Dallas
Caitlin Clark made her WNBA debut on Friday night with all eyes on the former Iowa star, scoring 21 points for the Indiana Fever against the Dallas Wings in a preseason game.
However, the No 1 overall pick in this year’s WNBA Draft could not lead her team to victory, as Arike Ogunbowale’s 3-pointer with three seconds left downed the Fever 79-76.
Clark did get a chance at a desperation 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded but the ball fell short of the rim.
Clark’s first professional saw her get the start and play the third-most minutes of any Fever player with 28.
Clark added three rebounds, two assists, and two steals while shooting 5-for-13 from 3-point range in the game.
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Caitlin Clark scored 21 points in her WNBA debut, falling to Dallas in a preseason game
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Clark was the No 1 overall pick in last month’s WNBA Draft after a stellar college career at Iowa
Clark was the Fever’s leading scorer and was the game’s co-leader in points with Wings’ star Jaelyn Brown, with each scoring 21.
Ogunbowale added 19 for the Wings, with her crossover, step-back 3-pointer sealing the win for Dallas.
NaLyssa Smith also added 20 points for Indiana, as Clark’s place as an integral player for the team from day No 1 appears to be set.
The attention for a WNBA preseason game was palpable with Clark having plenty of eyes on her in Arlington from the outset.
The Dallas-Forth Worth Metroplex had plenty of options for sports on Friday night with the Stars and Mavericks both playing in critical playoff Game 6’s, as well as the World Series-champion Rangers taking on the Royals.
The tarp was still taken off the upper deck in Arlington for a sell-out crowd.
Clark’s spotlight is only destined to grow, evidenced by a cameo on ‘Saturday Night Live’ two days before the WNBA Draft and the Fever’s red-carpet rollout for her introductory press conference.
Yet, some have doubted whether Clark’s game will transition to the professional level well, as she is not guaranteed to be the best player on the floor for every game any more.
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Expectations for Clark in the WNBA are enormous after what she accomplished in college
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Clark’s first performance in a preseason game saw her score 21 points in 28 minutes
Some of those doubters have been basketball legends, like Diana Taurasi.
‘Reality is coming,’ she said on April 6, nine days before the WNBA Draft took place in Brooklyn. ‘There’s levels to things. That’s just life. We all went through it.’
‘You look superhuman playing against some 18-year-olds, but you’re gonna come play with some grown women that have been playing basketball for a long time — not saying that’s not gonna translate.’
Taurasi added: ‘There’s gonna be a transition period where you’re gonna have to give yourself some grace as a rookie.’
After Clark’s fans criticized Taurasi’s comments, labeling them as ‘rude’, the former UConn star doubled down.
‘I don’t think I said anything that’s factually incorrect. Like anything, greatness is going to translate. And she’s prove that at every level. I don’t see why that’s going to be any different in the WNBA,’ Taurasi told azcentral’s Jeff Metcalfe this week.
One person who has not publicly doubted Clark is Sheryl Swoopes, who conducted Clark’s first WNBA post-game interview.
Swoopes was one of five WNBA legends Clark mentioned by name on ‘Saturday Night Live’ as players that opened the door she is walking through by joining the professional ranks.
