Caitlin Clark Scores Team High, Coughs Up 10 Turnovers in Up-and-Down WNBA Debut

The former Iowa Hawkeyes star made her highly anticipated WNBA debut on Tuesday night.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark shoots a free throw during her WNBA debut on Tuesday night.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark shoots a free throw during her WNBA debut on Tuesday night. / David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

The Caitlin Clark era with the Indiana Fever didn't get off to a fairytale start.

While making her highly anticipated WNBA debut Tuesday night, Clark scored a team-high 20 points on 5-of-15 shooting, but the Fever lost 92–71 to the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena. Clark also tallied three assists and two steals while committing a game-high 10 turnovers in 32 minutes.

Clark, the world-renowned sharpshooter, scored her first WNBA bucket on a fastbreak layup in the second quarter. She drilled her first three-pointer a few minutes later.

Clark struggled with turnovers throughout the game as the Sun met her with double teams during many offensive possessions. Clark's 10 turnovers Tuesday would've been her third-most single-game total during her decorated collegiate career at Iowa. She committed double-digit turnovers just three times in 139 games for the Hawkeyes.

DeWanna Bonner scored 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting to lead the Sun, who had five different players score in double figures. Aliyah Boston, the No. 1 pick of the 2023 WNBA draft by Indiana, was held to four points and six rebounds in 29 minutes.

Clark and the Fever are back in action Thursday for a matchup against the New York Liberty.


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Tom Dierberger
TOM DIERBERGER

Tom Dierberger is a staff writer and editor on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in November 2023 after stints at FOX Sports, Bally Sports and NBC Sports. Dierberger has a bachelor's in communication from St. John's University. In his spare time, he can be seen throwing out his arm while playing fetch with his dog, Walter B. Boy.