In the battle of the top two picks from the 2024 WNBA draft on Tuesday night, Caitlin Clark won the battle, but Cameron Brink took the war.
Clark was mostly fantastic for the Indiana Fever, scoring a career-high 30 points to go along with six assists, five rebounds, three steals and three blocks. But Brink’s Los Angeles Sparks were better, winning 88-82 behind Aari McDonald’s 21 points off the bench.
WNBA @WNBA
Here we go 👏
Caitlin Clark drains her first long range THREE early in the 1Q
📺 LAS-IND on NBA TV pic.twitter.com/ZI0OV5ejL3
Indiana Fever @IndianaFever
Caitlin Clark getting it done on both ends 💪
She gets the block and knocks down the deep three 💯 pic.twitter.com/ieTPIidkrp
WNBA @WNBA
Caitlin Clark fakes her defender and finishes on the reverse layup 😤
She’s up to 16 PTS in tonight’s matchup
📺 LAS-IND on NBA TV pic.twitter.com/U7Pt0XUmd3
WNBA @WNBA
HAVE YOURSELF A NIGHT CAITLIN CLARK 🔥
The rook is up to 21 PTS after this stepback TRIPLE
📺 LAS-IND on NBA TV pic.twitter.com/geChqGpoLn
Brink was something of a non-factor, finishing with three points, three rebounds, two blocks and two assists.
Clark assuredly would have preferred winning the game to the individual matchup. She also probably would have wanted to avoid the turnover bug that bit her again (seven) or her struggles from beyond the arc (3-of-10).
But she still looked like a star-in-the-making, and fans on social media took notice:
ThatOneCapGuy @Process718
This game is the Caitlin Clark game. She’s controlling every facet of the game. It’s time they hand the reigns to her and let her become the system.
Paul @Pauullll_
That combination of caitlin clark & kelsey Mitchell>>>>>
CJ ABRAMS BOMBS @Kylethefinnegan
Caitlin Clark is absolutely cooking
Anan Abubaker @Anan_Abubaker
The passing and ball movement from Caitlin Clark tho 😍 #fever #WNBA
Alex 🇮🇹 @RegularguysTB
Caitlin Clark is LIGHTIN IT UP!
jaunt bandana @ComradeTopanga
Caitlin Clark IS basketball. Like. She is pure basketball. It’s incredible.
KWON🌹 @Aceboykwon
Caitlin Clark in Barry sanders type situation she just don’t know it yet
fâr′mīn′dĭd+ @cantrellr
Quite obvious to see why the Indiana Fever had number one pick. They were bad last year and it shows this year. Caitlin Clark is legit exceptional, the rest of the team is inconsistent and sloppy. Teams can stay in Caitlin’s face all season.
Clark was so effective she had McDonald guarding her when she was supposed to be shooting a second free throw:
Complex Sports @ComplexSports
Aari McDonald was so worried about picking up Caitlin Clark full court that she forgot about her second free throw. 😭pic.twitter.com/rPUykBXxLq
She also had several of the Indiana Pacers in attendance to watch her work:
The Sporting News @sportingnews
Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard & Bennedict Mathurin are supporting Caitlin Clark and the Fever 👏 pic.twitter.com/W2mjYpmre5
The Sparks (2-4) hit a different gear in the second half, going on 11- and 12-point runs at various points in the third and fourth quarters. One of those runs came with Clark largely on the bench, another reminder of her importance to the Fever, even early in her career.
It hasn’t been the banner start to her career from a wins and losses perspective, as the Fever are now just 1-7. It didn’t help that McDonald and Nurse got red-hot from three in the second half, finishing a combined 8-of-13 from beyond the arc.
But Clark is showing signs of improvement, even less than 10 games into her career. Her side didn’t get the win on Tuesday, but she was arguably the best player on the floor, and that by itself is an extremely promising sign for Indiana.
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