It didn't take long for Caitlin Clark to receive her "Welcome to the WNBA" moment. Just one game, to be exact.
Four weeks after hearing her name called first at the 2024 WNBA Draft, the No. 1 overall pick for the Fever made her highly anticipated debut in a road game against the Sun. The 22-year-old was met with one of the toughest challenges of her basketball career.
Smothered by the defense of Connecticut guard DiJonai Carrington, Clark stumbled out the gate with seven points on 2-of-7 shooting in the first half. In addition to her shooting woes, the Indiana rookie committed five turnovers and dished out just one assist through the first 20 points.
Clark finished with 20 points (on 5-of-15 shooting), three assists and two steals but committed 10 turnovers in a 92-71 loss to the Sun. Here's how Connecticut's defense limited the phenom.
MORE: Predictions for the 2024 WNBA season
How the Sun shut down Caitlin Clark in her WNBA debut
Clark's night started on the wrong foot when she picked up two fouls less than five minutes into the first quarter. was subbed out 20 seconds after her second foul. And in adjusting to the whistle, she also must learn to deal with defensive physicality she rarely saw at the collegiate level.
Carrington, a four-year veteran, deserves credit for making life difficult for the rookie. During the first half, ESPN compiled clips of Carrington's on-ball pressure, off-ball denials and overall coverage that limited Clark's productivity.
Dijonai Carrington is putting the clamps on Caitlin Clark 🔒 pic.twitter.com/pGQ7MlXIqb
— ESPN (@espn) May 15, 2024
Connecticut is a team known for its stingy defense. Last season, the Sun's defense ranked second in the league behind only the defending champion Aces.
After Carrington briefly exited with apparent leg cramps, Clark had the pleasure of being guarded by 2023 Defensive Player of the Year runner-up Alyssa Thomas. Thomas finished the game with her WNBA-leading 12th career triple-double.
The biggest stain on Clark's debut is her 10 turnovers — she becomes just the 13th player in the league's 28-year history to commit 10 or more turnovers in a game.
Despite the physical coverages and turnover woes, Clark did manage to find some semblance of a groove in the second half, adding 13 points to finish with 20 points in the game.
MORE: WNBA power rankings at the start of the 2024 season
Caitlin Clark stats vs. Connecticut Sun
- 20 points
- 3 assists
- 2 steals
- 10 turnovers
- 4 fouls
- 5-of-15 (33.3%) field goal shooting
- 4-of-11 (36.4%) 3-point shooting
- 6-of-6 (100.0%) free throw shooting
STREAM: Watch the biggest games of the WNBA season on Sling
Indiana Fever schedule 2024
It doesn't get much easier for Clark and the Fever, who are set for a home-and-home series with the runner-up from last year's WNBA Finals before another meeting with the Sun. Here is a look at Indiana's next five games:
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | Network |
| May 16 | vs. New York Liberty | 7 p.m. | Prime Video |
| May 18 | at New York Liberty | 1 p.m. | ABC, Sling |
| May 20 | vs. Connecticut Sun | 7 p.m. | ESPN, Sling |
| May 22 | at Seattle Storm | 10 p.m. | WNBA League Pass |
| May 24 | at Los Angeles Sparks | 10 p.m. | ION, Fubo |
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