Caitlin Clark played her first game for the Indiana Fever in nine months on Saturday, returning to the court after injuries derailed her second season and limited her to just 13 appearances. The WNBA star received a warm ovation from the crowd when she was introduced in the starting lineup for the Fever's preseason clash against the New York Liberty in Brooklyn.
'This isn't a real game, I understand that, but that's how we treat it, like a real game,' Clark said before the Fever's 109-91 victory. 'I think anytime you get to put on your uniform and lace up your shoes you don't take that for granted, especially after coming off last year when I didn't get to do that very much.'
Clark admitted to feeling some nerves, but they didn't show early on. She scored the first basket of the game and then, a couple of possessions later, hit her signature step-back 3-pointer from deep. After making her first two shots, however, Clark missed her final eight attempts of the game. She finished with seven points, four assists, and three rebounds in just under 17 minutes of play.
'Get out there, run around, you know, it's going to be a little sloppy for both teams,' she said. 'That's kind of what preseason games are.'
Fever coach Stephanie White noticed a difference in Clark this preseason compared to her first two years in the league. 'I think that's the thing, watching her play with joy,' White said. 'In practice her energy is different, carrying herself in a different way.'
This wasn't Clark's first basketball game since suffering a season-ending injury last July. She previously played for USA Basketball in a World Cup qualifying tournament last month, where she earned Most Valuable Player honors. 'She was itchy and antsy before training camp started,' said White, who also coached her with USA Basketball. 'Glad she had those games with USA Basketball and came into training camp having played. Now it's fine tuning.'
While Clark played, several other Fever players were absent. Aliyah Boston was sidelined while recovering from a lower-leg injury, and Lexie Hull is working her way back from a hamstring issue. White said both would have played if it had been a regular-season game. The Fever were also without Ty Harris and Damiris Dantas, who is not yet with the team.
