Caitlin Clark’s WNBA preseason debut with the Indiana Fever: Live updates

Follow along as Caitlin Clark makes her preseason WNBA debut against the Dallas Wings

How will Caitlin Clark perform in her WNBA debut?

Scroll back up to restore default view.

Just two and a half weeks after she was drafted No. 1 overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2024 WNBA Draft, Caitlin Clark makes her preseason debut Friday night at 8 p.m. ET.

2024 WNBA preseason games won’t be broadcast nationally. If you don’t live close enough to catch the games on your local regional sports network, you can keep up with your favorite team(s) through WNBA League Pass. In addition to Fever-Wings, the Chicago Sky and Minnesota Lynx also face off at 8 p.m. ET.

Clark heads to the bench after picking up her fourth foul with 4:50 left in the third quarter.

That’s the fourth turnover for Clark on another good defensive play by Dallas. There were times at Iowa that turnovers piled up and it will be a focus for improvement throughout the season against better defenders than she faced in college.

“Catch, shoot, from DFW.”

Everyone prepped their deep-distance location calls, I see.

Clark is out there for the start of the second half …

Fever at the half

It will be interesting to see how much playing time Clark receives in the second half. The Fever have 15 players in camp and need to cut three before the season opener on May 14. There’s one more preseason game on the schedule next week at home. Head coach Christie Sides will probably want to see more from those players in the mix for final roster spots.

The trio of NaLyssa Smith (16:31), Aliyah Boston (17:33) and Clark (16:05) each played at least five minutes more than any other Fever players in the first half. All are locks for the team and starting positions. Kelsey Mitchell (out, left ankle) and Katie Lou Samuelson (out, right ankle and coming back from maternity leave) will fill out the projected starting lineup when they’re back.

At the half, the Fever lead 48-40, with Clark posting 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting (4-of-8 from 3).

Clark is up to 14 minutes. Curious how much she will play tonight.

Fittingly, Clark’s first assist as a Fever player is to former No. 1 pick Aliyah Boston. There’s what we’ve been waiting to see. Clark slipped a quick one through the paint for her to put away.

Dallas is picking up Clark, guarding her almost to the half-court line, and she is still creating space, getting her shot off and hitting them. She appears to be fine at the pro level.

Clark adds a fourth 3 going to her left. The sold-out crowd in Arlington is getting the show they hoped to see. It’s only preseason!

Clark scores 11 in first quarter

Clark played the first 7:33 of the game before subbing out. She has 11 of Indiana’s 23 points on an efficient 3-of-4, all from beyond the arc. She added one early rebound, but no assists yet. Wings lead, 26-23. Jaelyn Brown, an undrafted rookie who played four years at Cal from 2016-20, leads Dallas with eight points. A

For years, Dallas has leaned too much on Arike Ogunbowale’s scoring as its main offense. That changed last year with Natasha Howard in the mix and fully healthy season from Satou Sabally. Jacy Sheldon showing early she can be a great offensive addition to the team as a top-five pick out of Ohio State. She’s been tasked early with guarding Clark.

Cassandra Negley

Jacy Sheldon fouls Caitlin Clark as if it’s two months ago and we’re watching the Big Ten. That was one of her chuck-it-up attempts when no passing lanes are available, but having Boston and Smith to clean up rebounds will be a huge help when those miss. Clark is up to eight points in five minutes.

Clark gets to the line and makes her first two free throws at the 5:10 mark of the first.

The Caitlin Clark Show is indeed as good as advertised. Holy moly

Cassandra Negley

My goodness, ANOTHER 3 from Clark and it’s from feet behind the line. Forces Dallas head coach Latricia Trammell to take a timeout.

Cassandra Negley

Clark also had a rebound within the first minute off Dallas’ missed opening possession. If this were hockey, she’d also have an assist on that first Indiana bucket by Smith. But, alas.

The time of Clark’s first bucket was 9:06 of the first. Wow!

First 3 attempt, first make by Clark in the pros.

Fans are amped

The fans are standing for Caitlin Clark’s opening preseason game. What a scene!

Caitlin Clark gets the start in her pro preseason debut. Aliyah Boston, NaLyssa Smith, Lexie Hull and Erica Wheeler return to the starting lineup from last year. But Wheeler, who regularly played at point guard, will likely come off the bench when Kelsey Mitchell returns from an ankle injury. Mitchell moved down to fourth on the NCAA DI all-time women’s scoring list when Clark (No. 1) and Dyaisha Fair (No. 3) passed her this year.

Yahoo Sports Staff


How to watch Caitlin Clark’s WNBA preseason debut

It’s almost time for the 2024 WNBA preseason to tip off! The short preseason begins this Friday, May 3 with Caitlin Clark’s new team, the Indiana Fever, facing off against the Dallas Wings. The preseason will come to a close on May 11, and the regular WNBA season tips off Tuesday, May 14, when Caitlin Clark will make her official WNBA season debut. But the high-profile Indiana Fever rookie won’t be the only exciting new face on the court. The Fever also heads into the 2024 season with reigning Rookie of the Year, Aliyah Boston.

Are you ready to watch the 2024 WNBA preseason? Here’s everything you need to know about how to tune into preseason games, including Friday’s Indiana at Dallas match.