On Thursday night, Caitlin Clark entered her new venue, which was covered in No. 22 jerseys and shirts from floor to ceiling. She would leave the floor as a winner on this night.
Just seven minutes remained in the first quarter when Clark hit her first basket, which was a layup. When she eventually made a deep 3-pointer from the edge of the Fieldhouse logo late in the third quarter, the applause intensified and increased when she finished a three-point play a few minutes later.
Though it wasn’t quite the start most expected, Clark handled the city’s most anticipated rookie debut since Peyton Manning played for the Indianapolis Colts in 1998.
The night only got better for Caitlin Clark after the game was over.
Following the Fever’s 83-80 triumph, the former Hawkeyes star reconnected with teammate Gabbie Marshall, who was present to witness Clark’s first home game.
Fans who witnessed the moment online absolutely loved it:
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Clark spoke postgame about this moment:
“It’s just special having her here, someone I started all four years at Iowa with and has been one of my best friends over the course of the last four years. Just special. I told her I love her, and she said the same.”
Clark, the former University of Iowa phenom who has taken the sports world by storm, made her first appearance at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and she did not disappoint as she had 12 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and six turnovers, going 4 of 12 from the field and 2 of 9 on 3s in 31 minutes.
Also Read: Brittney Griner Gives Harsh Warning To Caitlin Clark Ahead Of WNBA Season
During the Fever’s preseason opener against the Dallas Wings, Clark led the team with 21 points.
“It was a lot of fun, I thought they were loud, I thought they were into it. It was fun to see,” Clark said following her home debut, via Yahoo. “This is a preseason game on a Thursday night and there’s 13,000 people here. I think that just shows you what it’s going to be like for us all season. It’s going to help us.”
Caitlin Clark’s Presence Has Changed The Outlook of Home Games For The Indiana Fever
The Indiana Fever’s first preseason game in Dallas on Friday was in front of a sold-out crowd.
They finally got a taste of what every home game would be like on Thursday when 13,028 people filled the fieldhouse to watch a preseason game.
Caitlin Clark’s presence has undoubtedly changed things for a team that averaged 4,067 fans per game just last year.
