Caitlin Clark began her WNBA career in unfamiliar circumstances as the Indiana Fever lost their first five games.
For comparison, Clark lost just five games his entire 2023-24 collegiate season with the Iowa Hokies (34-5).
The Fever would have to win 33 straight games to match that (which would have to last until the league playoffs, and it’s important to note that Iowa’s record includes postseason games), but at least for now, their drought is over. And a lot of that is thanks to Clark.
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Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) smiles as she makes her way onto the court after sinking a three-pointer in the final seconds of a game against the Los Angeles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena. (Jane Kamin Onsair-USA TODAY Sports)
Clark made two crucial 3-pointers, including one with under a minute left in the game, to help Indiana beat the Los Angeles Sparks 78-73 in front of 19,103 fans at Crypto.com Arena.
Indy trailed by as many as 11 points entering the final quarter and was trailing by just three, but led 16-6 at the start of the fourth quarter to take a six-point lead.
LA then got within three with 2:27 left when Clark drilled a 3-pointer from 33 feet away, her first of the day, and a delighted Clark high-fived actor and Iowa native Ashton Kutcher, who was sitting courtside with his wife, Mila Kunis, and their children.
The Sparks then got within two, but Clark proved why he was the No. 1 pick with a step-back crossover 3-pointer from the top of the key with 40.7 seconds left that proved to be the deciding factor.
She then gave a Michael Jordan-esque shrug.
“It feels really good to get that first one,” said Clark, who was two assists away from a triple-double (11 points, a career-high 10 rebounds).
She missed her first seven 3-pointers but made her final two at the right time.
“I should have scored goals, just like they should have scored goals,” Clarke said. “I missed a lot of goals throughout the game.”
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) was congratulated by actor Ashton Kutcher after the game against the Los Angeles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena. (Jane Kamin Onsair-USA TODAY Sports)
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The game featured the young and future talent of the WNBA, with No. 1 draft pick Clark facing off against Sparks No. 2 pick Cameron Brink and No. 4 pick Rikea Jackson. Brink had 15 points and nine rebounds, while Jackson came off the bench to score a career-high 16 points for the Sparks (1-3). Dearrica Hamby had 18 points and 12 rebounds.
Before the game, Clarke dismissed the notion that she was getting more attention than anyone else in the league, saying it was probably unfair. But maybe she should rethink that.
Jason Sudeikis, Rosie O’Donnell, Kathy Griffin, Chicago Bulls’ DeMar DeRozan, Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson, USC star JuJu Watkins, teammate Raya Marshall and coach Lindsay Gottlieb were among the sold-out crowd for the Sparks’ first game of the season at Crypto.com Arena. The Sparks played their first two games in Long Beach, but the game was moved to downtown Los Angeles when Clark and the Fever came to town.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) walks onto the court after making a three-point shot during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena. (Jane Kamin Onsair-USA TODAY Sports)
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“The crowd was absolutely amazing, especially towards the end,” Clark said. “They were so into it and so engaged.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
