INDIANAPOLIS — When fans of the Indiana Fever filled Gainbridge Fieldhouse for Saturday’s season opener, it felt like a return to normalcy.
Banners covered the streets downtown, handmade signs were everywhere in the bustling arena, and Caitlin Clark jerseys and shirts remained a popular choice among attendees. After a long 10-month wait for a significant game on Clark’s home turf, this weekend’s anticipated matchups between Clark and the Fever, along with the Paige Buccaneers facing the Dallas Wings, had everyone buzzing with excitement.
But perhaps no one was more eager to get the game underway than Clark herself, despite the spotlight being on two of the league’s prominent players and the last four top draft picks coinciding in Game 1.
“I think when you’re in a uniform and mentally locked down to play a basketball game, there’s a different energy in your body,” she expressed before the match. “I was so excited for my teammates last year—I was their biggest fan. But it just doesn’t compare. I really missed feeling those butterflies before games. It means I’m ready.”
WNBA schedulers did well this time; they provided fans what they wanted after an offseason filled with bargaining talks and uncertainty surrounding the season.
By Friday night, though, all worries felt behind. The New York Liberty and Connecticut Sun kicked off the league’s 30th season, facing off against the Seattle Storm and Golden State Valkyries, followed by fans getting their first look at how the Toronto Tempo would perform against Washington.
This all led to Saturday’s nationally broadcast game featuring Clark and the Buccaneers, which did not disappoint.
Clark scored 10 of her 20 points in the third quarter, helping the Fever recover from a 60-51 halftime deficit, but she missed a last-second three-pointer that would have tied the game at 107. The former Iowa State standout shot 2-for-9 from behind the arc as the Wings secured a 107-104 victory.
In addition to her scoring, she tallied seven assists and grabbed five rebounds, also reaching the 1,000-point milestone. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers managed 20 points despite missing two free throws with just 1.6 seconds remaining in the game. Azi Fad, the top pick from this year’s draft, played 18 minutes, taking only two shots and netting three points in his debut.
There was also a moment of concern for fans when Clark left the bench twice in the second half to tend to her back, but she managed to play through it—something she struggled with in a recent preseason matchup against Dallas after hitting her kneecap.
“I feel good. I think I started a bit slow because of my nerves. We really just needed a few more baskets to turn this into a great game and secure a win,” she said.
Even so, the energy around the match remained high.
As Clark and her teammates descended the stairs to the court for introductions, she was clearly the one who shouted the loudest.
“It gives me chills thinking about how far we’ve come as a league,” said Fever coach Stephanie White. “This is what we dreamed of. Back when I was a rookie, the arena would only fill up during the championship or final games, but now things have changed.”
Clark significantly contributed to creating sellout crowds in both college and the WNBA, though now, it’s not solely about her.
On Saturday, fans showed up in various jerseys, some supporting Bueckers and Fudd, while others proudly wore Dallas attire. One group even had a cutout of Bueckers, who had skipped prom to be at the game.
“That’s monumental. I caught many of the games last night on YouTube TV, so to just play on national television where more people can watch is amazing,” Bueckers remarked. “It’s way more accessible now than when I grew up watching the Minnesota Lynx. Back then, coverage was limited; you barely saw it on social media.”
With the addition of Buccaneers, last year’s Rookie of the Year, and Clark returning from a season-ending injury, the league appears headed for perhaps its biggest season yet.
During the weekend’s celebrations, there was a moment honoring David Letterman and NBA All-Star Tyrese Haliburton, both of whom have been supporters of the Women’s Professional Basketball League. Cheers resonated through the crowd as Fever players walked through to the court during introductions, especially for Clark and the Buccaneers.
“I believe this is monumental for women’s basketball,” Clark commented about the four No. 1 picks: 2023 Fever center Aliyah Boston, herself from 2024, last year’s Buccaneers, and now Fudd. “This might be the first time in sports to see two teams with two No. 1 picks. It truly highlights the young talent in this league, and the excitement among fans and players alike as we kick off the season.”
