Current:Home > StocksCaitlin Clark just made her WNBA debut. Here's how she and her team did. -CapitalCourse
Caitlin Clark just made her WNBA debut. Here's how she and her team did.
View
Date:2025-04-19 00:51:42
Uncasville, Conn. — Caitlin Clark struggled early in her WNBA debut before finishing with 20 points and 10 turnovers as the Indiana Fever fell to the Connecticut Sun 92-71 Tuesday night.
Alyssa Thomas led the Sun with 13 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds, registering the 12th triple-double of her career. DeWanna Bonner added 20 points and DiJonai Carrington had 16. Carrington also was a major reason for Clark's early offensive struggles, hounding the guard.
"Disappointed and nobody likes to lose, that's how it is," Clark said. "Can't beat yourself up too much about one game."
The NCAA's all-time Division I scoring leader, who finished the game 5 for 15 from the field, went scoreless in the first quarter. She missed her first four shots before finally getting on the board midway through the second period.
Clark stole the ball around the foul line and drove the length of the court before laying the ball in. She later added two free throws and hit a 3-pointer with 29.9 seconds left in the first half to finish the opening 20 minutes with seven points, hitting two of her seven shot attempts. The Fever trailed 49-39 at the break.
The Fever got within 63-57 late in the third quarter on two free throws by Clark, but couldn't get closer the rest of the way.
Clark did start heating up from the field, hitting four 3-pointers, including one from long range.
"Caitlin was able to get her some looks, able to knock them down. our spacing was not great," Indiana coach Christie Sides said. "Connecticut came in and punched us in the mouth tonight. We'll be in the gym tomorrow watching a lot of video trying to figure out how not to turn the ball over 25 times."
Clark broke the WNBA all-time record for turnovers in a debut game that was held by Cynthia Cooper-Dyke. Clark had 10.
CBSSports.com's Erica Ayala says Clark had "an unorthodox double double -- 20 points and 10 turnovers."
Ayala continued: "It was physical," said Clark after the game, learning quickly that the calls she might have been used to getting -- or perhaps even getting away with -– at Iowa were not going to fly in the WNBA. "Just expecting physicality was the biggest thing. Like there's no calls you're gonna get. The [defense] is going to get those calls, it is what it is."
- In:
- WNBA
- Caitlin Clark
veryGood! (2794)
Related
- Why members of two of EPA's influential science advisory committees were let go
- Pakistan arrests 21 members of outlawed Pakistani Taliban militant group linked to deadly attacks
- More Americans think foreign policy should be a top US priority for 2024, an AP-NORC poll finds
- What happened to Alabama's defense late in Rose Bowl loss to Michigan? 'We didn't finish'
- Bodycam footage shows high
- Best animal photos of 2023 by USA TODAY photographers: From a 'zonkey' to a sea cucumber
- Zapatista indigenous rebel movement marks 30 years since its armed uprising in southern Mexico
- The long-awaited FAFSA is finally here. Now, hurry up and fill it out. Here's why.
- Who are the most valuable sports franchises? Forbes releases new list of top 50 teams
- What's open New Year's Eve 2023? What to know about Walmart, Starbucks, stores, restaurants
Ranking
- Costco membership growth 'robust,' even amid fee increase: What to know about earnings release
- 'AGT: Fantasy League' premiere: Simon Cowell feels 'dumped' after Mel B steals skating duo
- It's over: 2023 was Earth's hottest year, experts say.
- Migrant crossings of English Channel declined by more than a third in 2023, UK government says
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
- Ian Ziering Breaks Silence After Unsettling Confrontation With Bikers in Los Angeles
- A boozy banana drink in Uganda is under threat as authorities move to restrict home brewers
- An Israeli who fought Hamas for 2 months indicted for impersonating a soldier and stealing weapons
Recommendation
Head of the Federal Aviation Administration to resign, allowing Trump to pick his successor
Last-of-its-kind College Football Playoff arrives with murky future on horizon
16-year-old traveling alone on Frontier mistakenly boarded wrong flight to Puerto Rico
Golden Knights dress as Elvis, Kraken go fishing for Winter Classic outfits
Skins Game to make return to Thanksgiving week with a modern look
Turkey detains 33 people suspected of spying on behalf of Israel
NOAA detects largest solar flare since 2017: What are they and what threats do they pose?
15 Practical Picks to Help You Ease Into Your New Year's Resolutions & Actually Stick With Them