INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Caitlin Clark walked into her new residence area Thursday night time with No. 22 shirts and jerseys peppered from flooring to ceiling.

She left as a first-time WNBA winner.

A late-arriving however louder-than-usual crowd roared throughout her official introduction to Fever followers and once more when Clark made her first basket, a layup with 7:00 left within the first quarter. The cheers grew when she accomplished a three-point play a couple of minutes later and hit a crescendo when she lastly made a protracted 3-pointer from the sting of the fieldhouse emblem late within the third quarter.

Sure, Clark efficiently navigated the town’s most anticipated rookie debut since Peyton Manning performed for the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts in 1998 though it wasn’t fairly the beginning most anticipated.

In an 83-80 preseason victory over the Atlanta Dream, Clark had 12 factors, eight rebounds, six assists and 6 turnovers, going 4 of 12 from the sector and a couple of of 9 on 3s in 31 minutes.

“It was a number of enjoyable, I assumed they had been loud, I assumed they had been into it. It was enjoyable to see,” Clark mentioned following her residence debut. “This can be a preseason sport on a Thursday night time and there’s 13,000 folks right here. I feel that simply reveals you what it’s going to be like for us all season. It’s going to assist us.”

The gang actually made a distinction Thursday as Clark helped the Fever rally from an early double-digit deficit following final week’s preseason opening loss at Dallas.

One lady held an indication that learn “Welcome to Indy Caitlin! — Caitlin M.”

Formally, the attendance got here in at 13,028 — practically 3 times bigger than the marginally greater than 4,000 per sport Indiana averaged for its 20 regular-season residence video games in 2023. Afterward, Clark discovered shut pal and former faculty teammate Gabbie Marshall and the 2 took a photograph collectively.

Many of the followers got here to see Clark — even for a rescheduled contest.

Indiana was initially scheduled to play Friday however moved the sport when the NBA introduced the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks would play Sport 3 of their best-of-seven collection in that point slot.

For Clark, the WNBA’s total No. 1 draft choose, it’s been a fast transition from taking part in faculty ball a month in the past to the professional model. And this sport didn’t include as a lot pomp and circumstance as might need been anticipated.

Clark went by way of her pregame warmups quietly and targeted as music blared and the stands began filling up. However as soon as the sport began, Clark & Co. had been all enterprise.

“I don’t assume I used to be that efficient, actually,” Clark mentioned. “I assumed greater than something I did a very good job of passing the ball, discovering my teammates. Clearly, I’d have preferred to have made a pair extra 3s, however generally that’s the way you shoot it.”

The fault didn’t fall solely on Clark’s shoulders.

Opponents are naturally game-planning to decelerate the highest scorer in NCAA Division I historical past. Atlanta’s ploy was to problem Clark with laborious closeouts, a number of defenders forcing the ball out of her palms and bodily play meant to get Clark off her spot.

The consequence: Clark struggled early because the Fever fell behind, and her teammates struggled to transform her crisp passes into factors. However in addition they received a glimpse into what this season might be.

“She pushes the tempo for us, she will get the ball the place it must be, in case you run the ground you’ve received to search for as a result of the ball is coming,” mentioned Nalyssa Smith, who had a game-high 21 factors. “She will unfold the ground, all people can rating and he or she’s trying to cross the ball.”

By way of all of it Clark was each a giant hit and a welcome change for a franchise searching for a turnaround. She’s generated extra curiosity and a spotlight in ladies’s basketball than most of her predecessors, giving her a platform few others possess and he or she’s taking full benefit of it.

Her presence, coupled with others in maybe probably the most heralded rookie class in WNBA historical past, prompted league commissioner Cathy Engelbert to announce earlier this week she’s poised to spend $50 million on charter flights over the next two seasons.

Meanwhile, the curiosity surrounding Clark has some opponents moving games to larger venues to accommodate ticket sales and a team that hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2016 will now have 36 of its 40 regular-season games on national television.

For Clark, playing in front of full arena has become the norm. For her teammates and coaches, this could be the start of something bigger than they could have imagined. Especially when it comes to a generational-type player resembling Clark, who has absolutely embraced her new residence metropolis.

“For me, that is one of the best a part of it,” Clark mentioned. “You’ve received to exit and compete each single night time and if one night time isn’t good for us, you could have a chance to come back again a pair days later and reply. I feel this group can be prepared (for the common season) and all people’s excited.”

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