The Gainbridge Fieldhouse was an absolute madhouse on Thursday night, energy crackling through the air as rookie sensation Caitlin Clark made her much-hyped preseason home debut for the Indiana Fever. A staggering 13,028 fans – over triple last year’s puny 4,000 average – crammed inside, setting a new franchise preseason attendance record. The atmosphere was bonkers, with the frenzied crowd bringing elite playoff vibes to a meaningless exhibition tune-up.
While Clark’s final stat-line was modest – 12 points on just 4-12 shooting (2-9 from deep), 8 boards, 6 dimes – her shot-making wizardry and flair for the spectacular still mesmerized. Every time she touched the rock, you could feel the crowd’s anticipation spike.
“Honestly, I don’t think I was very effective,” a candid Clark admitted postgame. “More than anything, I just tried being a great playmaker – moving the ball, finding teammates. Obviously I would’ve liked to splash a couple more triples, but sometimes the jumper just isn’t falling.”
Despite Clark’s cold shooting, the Fever found enough scoring punch elsewhere to gut out an 83-80 victory over the Atlanta Dream after digging themselves a 15-point second quarter hole. NaLyssa Smith poured in 21 points on 9-14 shooting to go with 6 rebounds.
But let’s be real – this game was merely an afterthought, a glorified public practice. The real story was the seismic jolt of energy pulsing through the building every time Clark touched the rock.
Gainbridge was absolutely delirious, the crowd showering its new adopted daughter with raucous roars after each of her patented shotmaking clinics. Clark single-handedly tripled the Fever’s paltry 4,000 home attendance figures from a year ago.
“Playing in front of a jam-packed, crazy loud arena like that was a blast!” Clark gushed. “The fans were awesome – loud and into it all night. It’s ridiculous seeing 13,000 here for a random Thursday preseason game. Just imagine what it’ll be like when the real games start!”
The giddy hometown crowd absolutely willed the Fever to victory after that sluggish first half start. Players could feel the fans’ deafening buzz driving them onward.
There’s simply no denying the “Clark Craze” has taken women’s hoops by storm. Her transcendent talent and bold, outspoken persona have ignited a wildfire of fresh interest and fervor for the sport. Just witness the record-smashing WNBA Draft viewership from January as proof of her meteoric rise.
Now unleashed upon the pro game, Clark appears poised to elevate the WNBA’s cultural cachet and visibility to stratospheric new heights. If this electric preseason showcase was any indication, Fever home dates will be THE hottest ticket in Indianapolis this summer as the city’s newly-minted hoops sweetheart looks to captivate with more of her once-in-a-generation shotmaking genius.
The real fireworks commence next Tuesday when the Fever open their campaign at Connecticut. But it’s the May 16th home opener against New York that has everyone drooling in anticipation. If a meaningless preseason tilt could produce this level of pandemonium, just imagine the bonkers scenes when Clark officially begins her professional residency on her new hometown court.
The Caitlin Clark Era has officially arrived in Indy. Fever, catch it!
