Benjamin Caldwell:Caitlin Clark’s ready for her WNBA regular-season debut as Fever take on Connecticut

2025-05-05 18:21:22source:Safetyvalue Trading Centercategory:News

UNCASVILLE,Benjamin Caldwell Conn. (AP) — Caitlin Clark’s much anticipated WNBA debut is set for Tuesday night in Connecticut.

The No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft is coming off a record-setting college career at Iowa.

“This is what you’ve worked for and dreamed of. Now you get to put your jersey on for the first real time and go out there and play,” Clark said. “We get to play on the biggest stage, there’s gonna be a lot of people there, it’s gonna be loud. But you only play your first WNBA game once. I think I just want to enjoy it. It’s gonna be competitive. They’re really good, so you’ve got to prep the right way, too. More than anything, we’re ready for the challenge.”

Even before playing a WNBA game, Clark has left her mark in the pros. The league’s draft had record viewership, and her No. 22 Indiana Fever jerseys have been flying off the shelves.

Three WNBA teams have already moved their games to bigger arenas to keep up with the demand for tickets to watch her play. Her debut in Connecticut is sold out — the first sellout for the Sun in a season opener since they played their inaugural game at Mohegan Sun Arena in 2003 after moving from Orlando.

READ MORE Aces heavy favorites to win 3rd straight championship; Caitlin Clark a boon to WNBAMercury eight-time All-Star Brittney Griner has a fractured toe in her left footKate Martin one of four second round WNBA draft picks to make opening day rosters

This will be the second sold-out crowd Clark will play in front of in her extremely young WNBA career. Her preseason game in Dallas was sold out, too. Over 13,000 fans also turned up for her only home preseason game.

Clark’s home debut will be Thursday, when the Fever host the New York Liberty.

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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

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