Inside Caitlin Clark and the Fever's only home preseason game for the 2024 season
An incredible fan turnout. Owner in his seat. Two and three defenders on Caitlin Clark. Teammates learning tendencies and dozens of media members covering this memorable night.
Caitlin Clark made her way out to the court two hours before tipoff and she immediately felt the cold air inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
She went over to the hydroculator at the end of the Indiana Fever bench and pulled out a heat pack, just like the one Nuggets guard Jamal Murray threw in the direction of a game official during a playoff game. She put it inside a Gatorade towel and sat on the baseline for a few minutes before it was her time for individual shooting — with the help of assistant coach Karima Christmas.
After playing the past four years at the University of Iowa, this is all new for the WNBA’s No. 1 pick and Thursday was her first opportunity to play in front of the home crowd. Even if it was just an exhibition game, it sure didn’t feel like one.
There were fans in the Virginia Avenue Parking garage more than two hours before tipoff (and an hour before the doors even opened). For the days leading up to their lone home preseason game, the players were eager to finally play in front of their fans and see The Fieldhouse filled — a significant upgrade from the crowd of a few thousand that attended games last year.
The announced attendance figure for tickets distributed was 13,028. For comparison, the Pacers had 8,976 and 10,470 at their two preseason games, respectively.
By 6 p.m., when the gates opened to fans, most of the entry pavilion was filled, including the walkway that goes directly from the parking garage to club-level seats.
They were ready.
“I thought they were loud, I thought they were into it,” Clark said after their 83-90 win over the Atlanta Dream. “It was fun to see some people in some Iowa stuff and then a lot of people in Fever gear. And this is a preseason game on Thursday night and there's 13,000 people here. I think that just shows what it's gonna be like for us all season and it's gonna help us.”
The Fever were ready too — to get a taste of their new normal and to play another game before the regular season. They needed game reps after just one other tune-up game and seven days of training camp.
Watch my video recap of the Fever’s home win over the Dream:
For team introductions, the Fever didn’t waste any time. Despite being a rookie, Clark was the last Fever player introduced — a spot reserved for the team’s best player. (Like for the Pacers, it’s Tyrese Haliburton.)
And just like the Pacers, defense is going to be a conversation all season long with this Fever team. They have shooters and scorers, but can they defend well enough to pile up wins? The Fever yielded 45 points in the first 15 minutes, then just 35 over the final 25 minutes.
They erased a 15-point deficit and were forced to play more team basketball considering how Clark was being face-guarded all over the court and often had two and three defenders on her. And they were always physical. That’s her new normal — and it’s allowed much more than in the college game. So this practice game was a great simulation for what lies ahead throughout the WNBA regular season.
“I don't think I was that effective, honestly,” Clark said postgame. “I thought more than anything, I did a really good job of passing the ball, finding my teammates on open roles, slips.”
And here’s where you know their chemistry off the court is ahead of where it is on the court.