“Time TV”
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The all-time main scorer in NCAA Division I historical past tied for essentially the most factors scored within the recreation with Connecticut’s DeWanna Bonner.
“Tonight the rookie joins Maya Moore and Edna Campbell as the one gamers in WNBA historical past to tally 20+ pts and 4+ 3PM of their debut,” the WNBA stated about Clark in a submit on X.
Clark went up in opposition to Alyssa Thomas, the 2023 league MVP runner-up and Connecticut Solar ahead. The Solar’s four-time All-Star notched a triple-double Tuesday with 13 factors, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds. The Suns had 5 gamers in double figures, with Bonner main the way in which. Bonner tallied 20 factors and had six rebounds.
After discovering herself in foul hassle early, Clark spent a lot of the primary quarter on the bench. Halfway by way of the second quarter, Clark made a steal and took the ball down courtroom for a transition lay-up to attain her first profession WNBA factors. Her first three-point bucket got here within the remaining minute earlier than halftime.
Clark picked up her tempo within the second half, however the Fever have been overwhelmed by the Solar workforce, a semifinalist in final season’s WNBA playoffs.
Clark struggled with ball safety in opposition to the Solar’s intense defensive stress. Clark additionally added three assists and two steals in opposition to the Solar.
After the loss, Clark stated she would’ve favored to have performed higher throughout her debut recreation, however that she’s keen to take action throughout future video games this season.
“Clearly I’m disillusioned. No person likes to lose, that’s how it’s,” Clark stated in her post-game interview.
“However I don’t suppose you’ll be able to beat your self up an excessive amount of about one recreation. I don’t suppose that’s going to assist this workforce. Regardless of who it’s on this workforce, nobody can try this with how they performed,” she stated. “Simply be taught from it and transfer on.”
It took her a short time to settle into the sport, Clark stated.
“I assumed the second half was loads higher, minus a few of the turnovers. However simply getting extra comfy, and that’s going to return with expertise and attending to play with these ladies,” she stated. “And the extra video games I play, the extra comfy I’m going to get.”
The Fever can be in motion once more on Thursday within the workforce’s house opener in opposition to the New York Liberty at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
The WNBA season began with the league’s latest star taking middle stage. Within the WNBA normal managers’ predictions for the season, Clark was voted almost definitely to win Rookie of the 12 months.
The rookie sensation, who had a historic NCAA season with the Iowa Hawkeyes, is on the forefront of a brand new wave of curiosity in ladies’s basketball and her arrival within the WNBA is a second followers have been anticipating for a while now.
Greater than 13,000 followers have been in attendance as Clark made her house preseason debut final week in an 83-80 victory for the Indiana Fever over the Atlanta Dream.
Hype for Clark’s debut season has been at a fever pitch – for house and away followers. On Monday, the Solar introduced their opener in opposition to the Fever was offered out with 8,910 tickets at Mohegan Solar Enviornment in Uncasville, Connecticut, snatched up. The Solar final offered out the Mohegan Solar Enviornment in 2003 – greater than 20 years in the past.
At Mohegan Solar Enviornment, Clark’s followers made their presence recognized with an enormous ovation throughout participant introductions and loud cheers the primary time Clark touched the ball.
