Caitlin Clark scores 20 points in WNBA return as Indiana Fever lose
Caitlin Clark scored 20 points on her highly anticipated return to WNBA action on Saturday as the Indiana Fever suffered a narrow 107-104 defeat by the Dallas Wings.
The 2024 Rookie of the Year was making her first regular-season appearance since July after an injury-hit campaign last season limited her to just 13 games.
Despite battling noticeable rust and struggling from beyond the arc with a two-for-nine shooting ratio, the first overall draft pick also registered seven assists and five rebounds.
“Started off a little slow, I think just the anxiety of the first game, trying to work through that,” Clark said.
Lingering back issue requires in-game adjustments
The record-breaking guard caused some concern for the Gainbridge Fieldhouse crowd when she left the bench area twice during the contest to receive medical attention.
She later clarified that she needed her back manually adjusted, reassuring fans that the quick visits to the locker room were purely preventative.
“It gets out of line pretty quickly, so just getting my back put back in place a little bit, but other than that I feel great,” she explained.
Indiana head coach Stephanie White dismissed any long-term fears regarding her star player’s fitness, attributing the mid-game maintenance to standard professional physical care.
Fever stars shine despite opening weekend defeat
The mid-western franchise ultimately fell short in their opening fixture, despite dominant individual performances from their established veteran core.
Three-time All-Star Kelsey Mitchell delivered a spectacular scoring masterclass, finishing with a game-high 30 points on the night.
Fellow All-Star Aliyah Boston proved equally formidable in the paint, contributing a highly efficient 23 points to keep the hosts within striking distance.
Mitchell had a golden opportunity to force overtime as the final buzzer sounded, but her dramatic 32-foot attempt fell agonisingly short of the rim.