The Indiana Fever managed to pull off a comeback victory against the Atlanta Dream, winning their second preseason game 83-80, thanks to a balanced scoring effort. NaLyssa Smith led the way with 21 points, while No. 1 draft pick Caitlin Clark contributed with 12 points, eight rebounds, and six assists despite struggling with her shooting.
Clark’s shooting was off, as she went 4-of-12 from the field, including 2-of-9 from beyond the arc. Despite the rough shooting, she made her presence felt with her playmaking and rebounding. However, her six turnovers were a downside. After the game, Clark was quick to critique herself, acknowledging her shooting woes. “I don’t think I was that effective (scoring), honestly,” she said with a wry smile.
Clark explained that the defense in the WNBA is a lot more aggressive and physical, making it harder to get clean looks. This is something she needs to adjust to as she transitions into her professional career. Yet, her teammate NaLyssa Smith was quick to defend her, pointing out that Clark’s contributions go beyond just scoring. “I’m gonna piggyback and say, she was effective,” Smith said. “She was pushing us, getting us open shots, passing ahead. Everyone’s gonna focus on the scoring, but she does a lot for us: She gets the ball where it needs to be. If you run the floor, you better look up, because the ball is coming.”
The Fever trailed by as many as 15 points in the second quarter but managed to turn things around to claim the victory. On the other side, the Dream started strong, shooting nearly 70% in the first quarter. However, their accuracy declined as the game progressed, and they couldn’t even get a shot off during their final possession, turning the ball over with just 1.9 seconds left.
The Fever will open their regular season on May 14 against the Connecticut Sun, followed by their home opener on May 16 against the New York Liberty, where Caitlin Clark will make her regular-season home debut.
