Playing in front of a packed and loud crowd was nothing new for Caitlin Clark, who made her WNBA debut in a 92-71 loss to the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena on Tuesday.
The competition, however, was another story.
Clark re-entered the game in the fourth quarter, with her Indiana Fever trailing by double digits. If the first three periods hadn’t been trying enough, a new challenge awaited Clark: five-time WNBA All-Defensive selection Alyssa Thomas was about to pick her up on the perimeter.
Clark attempted to create some space from Thomas, but couldn’t shake her, ultimately giving the ball up to Aliyah Boston in the lane with a few ticks left on the shot clock. Boston couldn’t create a look quick enough, and the Fever committed a turnover, their 21st of the game.
It was that kind of opener for Indiana, as its heavily-hyped offense was stifled by the veteran Sun. They gave the ball away 25 times and took 16 fewer shots than Connecticut, delaying Clark’s first WNBA win for at least one more game.
There are barely any open seats at Caitlin Clark’s WNBA debut.
The game tonight marks the Sun’s first sold-out home-opener since their inaugural match at Mohegan Sun Arena back in 2003 🔥
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— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) May 14, 2024
Clark posted 20 points on 5-of-15 shooting and hit four 3s on 11 attempts. She was held in the scoreless first quarter before scoring the first points of her professional career — a layup with 5:23 left in the second quarter. Clark hit her first career 3 on the left wing, where she made more 3s from last season at Iowa than any other spot on the court.
She had 10 turnovers, the most-ever in WNBA history for a player in their first game.
GO DEEPER
How have top WNBA picks fared in their debuts?
Here’s what we learned from her first regular-season contest.
Struggles against Sun’s aggressive defense
The Sun tasked 5-foot-11 DiJonai Carrington with being Clark’s primary defender, and the fourth-year guard closed off Clark’s air space with aplomb. Clark couldn’t lose her on screens on the perimeter or blow by her into the paint. Carrington also took the ball away from Clark on a loose dribble, going coast-to-coast for the transition layup.
It was an outstanding effort from Carrington, in just the fourth start of her WNBA career, who has historically been a spark plug off the bench.
But it wasn’t just Carrington; Connecticut’s total team defense targeted Clark, the head of the snake. The Sun hedged on screens, sending two to the ball and swarming Clark on the perimeter, which caused her to cough it up on multiple occasions.
The size of Connecticut’s frontcourt players, with 6-foot-4 DeWanna Bonner as the small forward, made it particularly challenging for Clark to find an outlet out of those traps.
Furthermore, Indiana’s spacing wasn’t good enough for the Fever to reset the offense on those possessions. Indiana tried to make things easier for Clark in the second half by setting screens closer to the basket, so even when Clark was pushed back, she was still in shooting range.
Even so, the No. 1 pick committed 10 turnovers in her debut, registering an ignominious double-double. Whether she was trying to escape the trap or lob the ball into the paint, the Sun were prepared for Clark’s ball movement.
Clark had more success playing off the ball, her first two 3 makes coming on catch-and-shoot attempts off screens. With Kelsey Mitchell on a minutes restriction, Indiana had fewer opportunities to have someone else run the offense, so Mitchell returning to full health will allow Clark to play at the 2 more often.
Clark was also good on switches, but didn’t see those very often in Connecticut’s scheme.
Can’t always shoot out of slumps
At Iowa, Clark was so completely in charge of the offense that she could keep shooting when things went poorly and eventually get herself in rhythm. With so many mouths to feed on the Fever roster, Clark couldn’t hijack possessions and didn’t really find her footing until the second half.
After missing her first four shots, Clark made five of her next eight attempts, but she isn’t yet accustomed to impacting games with a lower shot volume. Indiana has to strike a balance among its best players, a task that will become even more difficult when Mitchell is in the starting lineup.
While Clark dominated possession, Boston fell by the wayside, only getting six field goal attempts in her 29 minutes.
The duo that seems to be more on the same page is Clark and NaLyssa Smith, as Smith is more comfortable as a rim runner and playing at a faster pace. The pick-and-roll chemistry between Clark and Boston, the two franchise cornerstones, remains a work in progress.
Opposing teams will make Clark work on both ends
It wasn’t just the Sun defense that targeted Clark; the Connecticut offense also went after her. They involved her in the same twirl action in the second and third quarters to get open 3-pointers, and Indiana’s defense didn’t adjust.
On one occasion, Clark didn’t account for who she was guarding, and over helped in the paint, leaving Ty Harris — the WNBA’s leading 3-point shooter by percentage in 2023 — open on the wing. Clark also got caught ball-watching on a back cut.
Thomas drew three fouls on Clark herself, as the rookie grew increasingly frustrated. On the third foul, Clark thought she had successfully gone over Thomas’ screen, but the veteran demonstrated to the referee how Clark’s arm had gotten caught on her jersey to earn the call.
Clark finished with 20 points, tying for the game-high with Bonner, but her 10 turnovers far outpaced her three assists, and Indiana lost her minutes by 13 points.
There is plenty of room to grow for her and the Fever.
Required reading
(Photo: Elsa / Getty Images)
