When the first quarter of Thursday night’s game was almost over, Indiana Fever first-round pick Caitlin Clark ripped through the lane. Clark scored 21 points in the Fever’s WNBA preseason game at Dallas on May 3. She scored her first unofficial points at home against the Atlanta Dream in Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Clark scored 12 points, grabbed 8 boards, and passed the ball 6 times.
In the 83–80 win, Clark had a good night. With two rebounds and four assists, she could have had her first triple-double in the WNBA before the season even starts next week.
But there were some bad things about her night.
Eight times, Caitlin Clark lost the ball, and she only made four out of twelve shots from the field. This was worse than her first game, when she made 5 of 13 3-point shots.
Read More: How to Watch Caitlin Clark’s First WNBA Game Before the Season.
Clark made four 3-pointers in the first half of last week’s 76–79 loss at Dallas, but he couldn’t keep up and only made one of five in the last 20 minutes. Against the Dream Thursday in front of Fever fans for the first time, it went the other way for the youngster. Clark missed all four of her 3-point shots in the first quarter, but she made her only shot in the second.
Clark said after the game, “They’re pressing me fullcourt and being rough with me coming off the screens.” “I got some clean looks, it’s going to be hard to get more.” I think I rushed a few threes early in the game, but they still looked good and felt good, which is all that matters. Still, it’s nice.
You can just look at your other friends who are finishing really well.
But with 2:45 left in the first, she scored going all the way through four Dream players.
At the same time, she set up four goals in the first quarter and two in the second.
Clark said, “To be honest, I don’t think I was that useful.” “The thing I liked most about the game was how well I passed the ball and found my teammates on open rolls and slips.” Katie Lou Samuelson and I found each other a few times for a few threes. I’m not sure. I mean, I believe I splattered paint. I would have liked to make a few more threes, but that’s just the way it is sometimes… It was fun to play again, and after a slow start, we really came back.
Read More: The Caitlin Clark Security Scare Causes Significant WNBA Change.
NaLyssa Smith, who has now had back-to-back 20-point games, answered after Clark.
Smith said, “I’m going to add to that and say she did a good job.” We got a lot of assists because they pushed the ball and touched it in the paint. Everyone will be focused on scoring, but she’s making space for her friends. We can get to the basket and get open shots because of her. Because everyone is looking at her, we have lots of chances, and she’s passing the ball like crazy.
Caitlin Clark and Gabbie Marshall, who used to play for Iowa, stood for pictures courtside after Indiana’s one-possession win. Clark said it was unique. Marshall was Clark’s neighbour at Iowa for a long time and became one of her best friends in college. Clark said it was strange not to be partners on the court, but it was fun to see Marshall’s smile. Clark said that 13,028 people showed up to Gainbridge, which is a record number for the tryouts. Marshall was one of them.
The first game of the regular season for Indiana is next Tuesday at the Connecticut Sun.
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