Caitlin Clark’s long-awaited debut at Chase Center was meant to be special.
And for a brief moment before tip-off, it was, until the game started.
“I told Kate [Martin] this after shootaround – this arena is absolutely incredible. I’m excited to play here; it’s my first time. I grew up watching Steph. To me, he’s one of the greatest basketball players of all time. … I think he’s really changed the way basketball is being played,” Clark said before her Indiana Fever faced off against the Golden State Valkyries on Thursday night.
Caitlin Clark got the full NBA treatment in San Francisco, both on and off the court.
While she was busy adjusting to the spotlight, Brandin Podziemski, a member of the Golden State Warriors, was sitting courtside and let her know about it.
Podziemski didn’t just watch. He stood, shouted, clapped, celebrated every missed shot, and even hit Steph Curry’s signature “night night” pose as the Fever fell 88–77. Clark finished with just 3-of-14 shooting and missed all seven of her attempts from deep.
The moment wasn’t lost on her, but it clearly wasn’t the performance she envisioned.
Golden State’s Kayla Thornton led the way with 16 points, while Clark’s former Iowa teammate Kate Martin chipped in nine points and five boards off the bench.
Clark, who entered the night averaging 21.3 points while shooting over 44 percent from the field and 40 percent from three, had no answers for the Valkyries’ swarming defense and hostile energy.
She’ll get another crack at them soon enough, with Indiana hosting the Valkyries on July 9 before returning to Golden State on August 31.
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