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Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, left, signs autographs for Iowa fans after Indiana lost to the Dallas Wings during an WNBA basketball game in Arlington, Texas, Friday, May 3, 2024. Michael Ainsworth, AP

CORRECTS FROM CAITLYN TO CAITLIN - Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, left, signs autographs for Iowa fans after Indiana lost to the Dallas Wings during an WNBA basketball game in Arlington, Texas, Friday, May 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)

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Fever Wings Basketball

Associated Press

<div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1714803120340AP24125034292859.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts after making a three-point shot against the Dallas Wings during the first half of an WNBA basketball game in Arlington, Texas, Friday, May 3, 2024. Michael Ainsworth, AP"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts after making a three-point shot against the Dallas Wings during the first half of an WNBA basketball game in Arlington, Texas, Friday, May 3, 2024. <em>Michael Ainsworth, AP</em></span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — More than three hours before Caitlin Clark made her WNBA debut with the Indiana Fever in an exhibition game against the Dallas Wings on Friday night, some fans among the sellout crowd were lined up outside the arena dressed in No. 22 University of Iowa jerseys.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">And Clark put on a show.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The two-time NCAA women&#x27;s basketball player of the year led all first-half scorers with 16 points in 16 minutes and finished with a team-high 21 points in the Fever&#x27;s 79-76 loss. She was 6 of 15 from the field including 5 of 13 from deep, and had three rebounds, two assists, four fouls and five turnovers.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Her 21 points tied for the game high with Dallas rookie Jaelyn Brown.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/4/3/clark-iowa-s-epic-win-sets-us-women-s-basketball-tv-ratings-record-1602"></a><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/4/3/clark-iowa-s-epic-win-sets-us-women-s-basketball-tv-ratings-record-1602">READ: Clark, Iowa&#x27;s epic win sets US women&#x27;s basketball TV ratings record</a></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/4/16/college-basketball-phenom-caitlin-clark-selected-first-in-wnba-draft-841"></a><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/4/16/college-basketball-phenom-caitlin-clark-selected-first-in-wnba-draft-841">READ: College basketball phenom Caitlin Clark selected first in WNBA draft</a></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><strong>HIGHLIGHTS:</strong></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6N2Y7vYpqFE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;My biggest goal coming into tonight was to continue to be myself, play aggressive,&quot; Clark said. &quot;I thought that&#x27;s what I did. I think there&#x27;s a lot to be proud of.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;The crowd was great all night. That&#x27;s what you expect with a sellout. Those are going to be the same for the crowds all year long. So whether they&#x27;re cheering for you or cheering against you, you&#x27;d better get used to it.&quot;</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">She even had a chance to send the game into overtime. Dallas&#x27; winning basket by Arike Ogunbowale came with three seconds left and Clark&#x27;s 3-point attempt from the right corner at the buzzer fell short.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;You couldn&#x27;t ask for a better game,&quot; Clark said.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Clark&#x27;s first pro basket came on a 28-foot 3-pointer near the left sideline less than a minute into play during which Dallas&#x27; defense lost her momentarily on a baseline inbounds play.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;I was able to get a pretty clean look for my first shot,&quot; she said. &quot;It&#x27;s always nice to see your first shot go in when you&#x27;re a shooter.&quot;</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">She hit four 3-pointers in the half and added two of three free throws when fouled on a shot behind the arc.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">She was scoreless in the third period and sat for the final five minutes after collecting her fourth foul.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Christina Edge, who lived in Iowa for 35 years before moving to the Dallas suburb of Rowlett three years ago, was one of the fans who showed up early. She said arriving that early at the University of Texas-Arlington&#x27;s College Park Center would increase her chances of landing a photo with the basketball phenomenon.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;It&#x27;s my birthday,&quot; said Edge, who said her son gave her the ticket as a birthday gift, &quot;and I just want a picture with her!&quot; She carried a bright yellow poster board sign advertising that plea.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Pailynn Amos, 9, was also outside the arena wearing a yellow Clark jersey with her own sign — &quot;When I grow up I wanna be just like her.&quot;</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Rebecca Amos, Pailynn&#x27;s mother, made the approximately hour-long drive from the town of Ennis.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;I watched her (on TV) like crazy,&quot; Rebecca said. &quot;So, she (Pailynn) just kind of grew to her. Then we were like, ‘Wow, now she&#x27;s in Dallas.&#x27; We could actually go see her!&quot;</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/4/9/-caitlin-clark-effect-set-to-transform-wnba-1517"></a><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/4/9/-caitlin-clark-effect-set-to-transform-wnba-1517">READ: &#x27;Caitlin Clark Effect&#x27; set to transform WNBA</a></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/4/17/caitlin-clark-hailed-as-savior-in-hero-s-welcome-to-indianapolis-251"></a><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/4/17/caitlin-clark-hailed-as-savior-in-hero-s-welcome-to-indianapolis-251">READ: Caitlin Clark hailed as savior in hero&#x27;s welcome to Indianapolis</a></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Clark received a rousing ovation before tipoff when introduced with Indiana&#x27;s starters.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1714803167246AP24125084004881.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, left, signs autographs for Iowa fans after Indiana lost to the Dallas Wings during an WNBA basketball game in Arlington, Texas, Friday, May 3, 2024. Michael Ainsworth, AP"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, left, signs autographs for Iowa fans after Indiana lost to the Dallas Wings during an WNBA basketball game in Arlington, Texas, Friday, May 3, 2024. <em>Michael Ainsworth, AP</em></span></span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">While Clark had plenty of fans in attendance, Wings fans didn&#x27;t give her a pass. As she dribbled past her defender at midcourt during the first half, one woman shouted, &quot;Get her! Get her!&quot;</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The WNBA&#x27;s first preseason game was played the same night that the NBA&#x27;s Dallas Mavericks hosted the LA Clippers in Game 6 of a first-round playoff series about 20 miles away.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The exhibition game was the first of two for the Fever before Clark makes her regular-season debut on May 14 at the Connecticut Sun.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The game sold out all 6,251 seats soon after it was announced on Dallas&#x27; schedule, specifically requested by Wings president and CEO Greg Bibb soon after Clark declared in February she would leave college for the WNBA with one year of eligibility remaining. Indiana won the lottery for this year&#x27;s first pick last December.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">A local television crew recorded the Fever&#x27;s arrival at DFW International Airport on Thursday. During Clark&#x27;s media session on Friday morning, she addressed the request to sign a couple&#x27;s ultrasound picture.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;That was definitely a first,&quot; she said with a laugh.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Other WNBA players welcomed her.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;It&#x27;s really great that Caitlin&#x27;s bringing all this attention to women&#x27;s basketball, so I&#x27;m really grateful for that,&quot; Wings center Kalani Brown said.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;This is what women&#x27;s basketball has deserved for quite some time now,&quot; said Fever center Aliyah Boston, last season&#x27;s WNBA rookie of the year and the women&#x27;s collegiate player of the year before Clark&#x27;s run. &quot;It&#x27;s better late than never. I&#x27;m really excited for what&#x27;s to come for this league.&quot;</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Wings last month said they had sold out their season-ticket allotment, which accounts for about 2,500 seats.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Indiana will return to College Park Center to play twice during the regular season, on July 17 in the last game before the WNBA&#x27;s nearly month-long Olympic hiatus and one day after the MLB All-Star Game is played at the Texas Rangers&#x27; home stadium less than three miles away. The Fever also play there Sept. 1.</span></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><ivs-player data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-vid="3015777"></ivs-player></div><script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script>

<p>More than three hours before Caitlin Clark made her WNBA debut with the Indiana Fever in an exhibition game against the Dallas Wings on Friday night, some fans among the sellout crowd were lined up outside the arena dressed in No. 22 University of Iowa jerseys.</p>

More than three hours before Caitlin Clark made her WNBA debut with the Indiana Fever in an exhibition game against the Dallas Wings on Friday night, some fans among the sellout crowd were lined up outside the arena dressed in No. 22 University of Iowa jerseys.

A sellout for a WNBA exhibition game? Welcome to the league's Caitlin Clark era

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A sellout for a WNBA exhibition game? Welcome to the league's Caitlin Clark era

Associated Press

Published May 04, 2024 02:15 PM PHT

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