The Indiana Fever squared off against Brazil’s women’s national team on Sunday in an exhibition game, and Caitlin Clark reminded everyone why the hype is real. The rookie phenom caught fire from deep, sinking 66.7% of her three-point attempts and leading the Fever to a commanding 108-44 victory.
Clark’s fearless shooting drew some media criticism, with a few questioning if she was taking shots just to showcase her range. But head coach Stephanie White wasn’t buying it—she doubled down on her faith in Clark’s shot selection, likening her to none other than Steph Curry.
“I’ve been watching her do it for five years, really,” White said. “That’s just who she is. It’s what she does. I mean, nobody tells Steph Curry not to take good shots, right?”
Clark’s confidence is exactly what makes her dangerous—and effective. True to the old saying, you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, she took the shots she knew she could make. It’s the kind of preseason moment meant for rhythm checks and rust shaking, and Clark leaned into it with no hesitation.
The game, held at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City—Clark’s old stomping ground—was a homecoming celebration. With 15,000 fans packing the arena and an average ticket price of $650, the highest for a WNBA game since 2015, it was clear her presence was the main attraction.
And she didn’t disappoint.
Clark dropped 16 points, grabbed six rebounds, and dished out five assists in just over 18 minutes on the floor. She drained four deep threes, each one drawing louder reactions than the last, and showed off her signature court vision and flair that made her a college legend.
The Fever were already coming off a 79-74 overtime win against the Washington Mystics in their first preseason game—one Clark missed due to a minor leg injury. But with her back in the lineup, Indiana looked supercharged and nearly unstoppable.
If this was just a preseason glimpse, the WNBA better brace itself. Caitlin Clark is here, and she’s bringing the heat.
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