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Alexa Philippou
Multiple Authors
NEW YORK — In her first WNBA action since mid-July, Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark finished with seven points, four assists and three rebounds in just shy of 17 minutes as the Fever beat the New York Liberty in their preseason opener on Saturday, 109-91.
It wasn’t Clark’s first game back overall since the 2025 campaign, where she was limited to just 13 games due to injuries. That distinction came last month, when the 2024 No. 1 pick suited up for USA Basketball and won MVP of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournament in San Juan.
Nonetheless, prior to tip on Saturday, Clark described her emotions as “super, super excited” even if the game didn’t technically count.
“I think anytime you get to put on your uniform and lace up your shoes, you don’t take that for granted, especially having come off of last year. I didn’t really get to do that very much,” Clark said. “So I think for me, coming into this game, just a lot of excitement, not a ton of nerves, just like, get out there, run around… everybody’s just trying to get their footing again, same goes for me too.”
On Saturday, Clark hit her first two shots from the field for five quick points in the first 71 seconds before missing her next eight shots to finish the game. She started the second half before sitting at the 7:06 mark of the third, with none of the Fever’s starters playing more than 22 minutes.
“I thought she was good,” Fever coach Stephanie White said. “We play differently when she’s on the floor. And so [we are] learning how to play with her in the action. I thought she didn’t force anything. She played with great intention, and everything that she did was in the flow. She was communicating at a high level.
“If we’re talking about the shot-making, that’s going to come. They play her differently in the W than they do in international basketball, and so we’ve just got to find ways to free her up to get her some easy looks.”
The Fever – who were without Aliyah Boston and Lexie Hull (precautionary) as well as new acquisition Ty Harris (knee) — were led by 18 points from Shatori Walker-Kimbrough and Kelsey Mitchell apiece, while rookie Raven Johnson shined with six points and a game-high eight assists in her first WNBA contest. The Liberty were paced by 20 points from Han Xu plus 16 from Breanna Stewart.
Clark’s third year in the league will be all about getting back – and staying – on the floor and trying to build off an impressive start to her WNBA career.
Even amid an injury-plagued year, the Fever surprised the league last season by rallying to a semifinal berth and positioning themselves five minutes away from a Finals appearance, before falling to the eventual champion Las Vegas Aces in overtime of Game 5.
“My first two years of my career is like, everything feels like it’s really, really good or it’s really, really bad,” Clark said. “That’s just kind of how pro basketball works, whether it’s on the men’s side, whether it’s on the woman’s side. You’ve kind of just got to stay right in the middle. I think that’s going to be important for our team. It’s a long season.”
What should help her get through those peaks and valleys is the joy she’s playing with, as White described, in being back on the floor.
“In practice, her energy is different, she’s carrying herself in a different way,” White said. “You could tell she was a little itchy and antsy before training camp started. And then day one of training camp, it was like, ‘I can just breathe and I can play, and I can enjoy playing the game again.’
“I’m glad that she had those games with USA Basketball, because she was coming into training camp having played, having had rhythm, timing, and now it’s just fine-tuning some of those things. And she’s in a great place.”
Clark and the Fever have two more tune-ups with preseason tilts against the Dallas Wings on Thursday and an exhibition against the Nigeria national team on May 2 before opening their season on May 9 against the Wings – a matchup featuring the last four No. 1 overall picks.
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