AssetID: 53749178
Headline: UNCAPTIONED: Connecticut Sun Pressures Caitlin Clark in WNBA Debut and Defeats Indiana Fever
Caption: The Sun's home opener on May 14 was sold out for the first time since 2003 as fans gathered to watch Clark in her WNBA debut. But the Sun was ready for college basketball's all-time leading scorer, pressuring her at every move in an attempt to throw her off her game, NBC News reports. DiJonai Carrington stuck to Clark like glue, which noticeably frustrated and flustered the 2024 No. 1 draft pick. Fever coach Christie Sides said that the Sun "had a game plan against her, and it's just going to take some time for her to figure that speed and quickness and physicality out" . "We try to rep it and mimic that at our practices with our practice guys as much as we could. But it's just not the same.", Christie Sides, Fever coach, via statement. Although Clark was scrambling to find her rhythm, which also led to 10 turnovers, . she still finished the game with 20 points, the most in any WNBA debut. She also had three assists and two steals. Also scoring 20 points for the night was DeWanna Bonner, which landed her at "No. 5 on the WNBA's all-time scoring list," NBC News reports. The Sun walked away with a 92-71 victory. While Clark knows that the experience will provide her "a lot of things to learn from," her coach, teammates and fans have faith that she'll quickly adjust to her new environment. The Fever's home opener will take place May 16 against the New York Liberty at 7 p.m. ET THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT
Keywords: Connecticut,sun,pressures,Caitlin Clark,WNBA,women's,basketball,debut,defeats,Indiana Fever,all-time,leading,score,throw off,game,teammates,coach,assists,steals
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