Caitlin Clark’s return to Iowa 13 and a half months later was no less of a celebration, even before her presence called for it. Tickets were sold out in minutes, jerseys were being prepped, and ESPN had slid in to announce its first-ever nationally televised pre-season game. The Fever star had expressed excitement prior to the big day, but of course, none could match the Hawkeye Nation. They were dedicated, they were loud, and further best summed up in Stephanie White’s words.
After an injury scare prior to their opening preseason game had the fans in a bind, CC did not miss the opportunity to take the floor once again at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Returning for the first time since she got drafted by the Indiana Fever, she made sure to put on a show.
Clark would turn back the clock as she opened scoring for the Fever, and then followed it up with a moment that will be hard to erase for a while. As the seconds ticked down in the third quarter, Clark knew she would be coming out of the game once the quarter ended. So she made sure to give the fans exactly what they came for– a 3 from the logo, reminiscent of the shot that took Clark to the apex of NCAAW scoring charts.
“But I was like, ah, why not? Might as well launch one, and it went in,” said Clark. “I had to give the fans a little something. I told you I was going to pregame, so.” The shot went down, the crowd erupted, and just for one moment, it felt like 2024 all over again. But while CC and the Fever gave much to talk about with their performance, all one could be mesmerised over was the crowd at the arena.
When asked about the 14,998 audience filling the seats, all Stephanie White had to say was, “I thought it was electric.” This was much more than a crowd the WNBA is used to in its preseason games down at college arenas. This was a show of the heights that an athlete and a team could be celebrated at.
To start with, tickets for this exhibition sold out in 24 minutes, according to Victory Live, and fans packed the arena 90 minutes before tipoff. “I didn’t expect anything else,” said Clark. Then, as the players took to the court, and Clark dropped her 3, the cheers were recorded at 117 decibels. And let us tell you, it wasn’t just the 2024 ROTY getting all the love. We may have seen a sea of No.22 covering more than half the arena, but the fans let it be known that they were here for the entire team.
When Kelsey Mitchell dropped another 3 at some point in the game, the recorded decibel was 116. “I felt like a Hawkeye today,” she’d say. “It’s 10 out of 10 for me.” The black, white, and gold, were switched with the Indiana red. What’s more? While Clark had warned fans about the unavailability of air-conditioning at Iowa’s home arena, the fans didn’t seem to care.
The exhibition game had been in the works since the turn of the year and saw the average prices soar to $440, more than any of Clark’s games at Iowa or with the Fever. As CC continues to do the unprecedented, Coach White knows she has a rockstar at her hands. Upon being asked about Clark’s deep 3, White said, “That’s just who she is. It’s what she does. Nobody tells Steph Curry not to take good shots, right?”
The Fever reciprocated the love with a blowout 108-44 win. CC would add 16 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 3-pointers, while Mitchell led with 17 points. This is a start the HC is proud of. But as the preseason nears its end, there are some difficult decisions coming their way. For now, the Fever have their eyes set on Atlanta, whom they will be facing on Saturday.
Who makes the cut in Indiana?
Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, Lexie Hull, Aliyah Boston and Damiris Dantas are the only ones returning from the 2024 squad. With a sea of new additions and a coaching change, the doubts around how the players would fit together loomed large. But the first two preseason games have showed positive signs.
The brightest spot, though, might just be Sophie Cunningham. In their preseason opener, Sophie led all scorers with 21 points in 34 minutes off the bench, going 6-for-11 from the field and 7-for-8 from the free throw line while also pulling down eight rebounds. With her taking up the wing spot alongside DeWanna Bonner, the Fever appeared set. But a third small forward might just make it to the final squad, especially if a veteran continues to slip.
As Bree Hall went on to score 9 points in her limited minutes against Brazil, she made a strong case for her inclusion in the side. With her strong 3-point shot and defensive acumen to the table, it might spell trouble for Colson, who has scored only 3 points across the two preseason games. While any player needs time to settle in, Colson’s heavy $90,000 contract have raised questions around her value for the team. But with no backup point guard in sight, Colson, who is a 2-time WNBA Champion, is expected to make the cut.
The Fever have a 15 player training camp roster and they haven’t waived anyone yet. With players around the league starting to receive their marching orders, the last preseason game against the Dream would be crucial in determining who moves on to the final roster. Cap space problems will once again be taking center stage, as the Fever are expected to keep only 11 players to start the season. A training camp that has been uber competitive, Clark’s sophomore year in Fever will undoubtedly be a thriller.
The post Stephanie White Makes 5-Word Strong Statement About 15,000 Fans at Caitlin Clark’s Alma Mater appeared first on EssentiallySports.
