The Indiana Fever made their preseason debut on Saturday against the New York Liberty at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Caitlin Clark had a rough shooting night, finishing with just seven points on 2-for-10 shooting in 17 minutes. It was Clark’s first taste of WNBA action since July 15, 2025 in a win over the Connecticut Sun.
Clark did play for Team USA in March at the 2026 FIBA World Cup qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico. She took home MVP honors after averaging 11.6 points and 6.4 assists in five games.
Stephanie White Reveals Takeaways From Caitlin Clark’s Preseason Debut
GettyCaitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever during a WNBA game.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Fever coach Stephanie White was asked about her thoughts on Caitlin Clark’s performance in her first preseason game of the season. White liked what she saw from her superstar point guard despite her rough shooting night.
“I thought she was good,” White said. “You know, I think we played differently when she was on the floor. And so again, learning how to to play with her in the action. I thought she was good. I thought she didn’t force anything. She played with great intention, and everything that she did was in the flow.”
The coach added, “She was communicating at a high level. I mean, if we’re talking about the shot making, like 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.”
Clark was limited to just 13 games last season because of multiple injuries. She told reporters on media day last week that she won’t be playing a full load of minutes in the preseason.
The Fever have two more preseason games on April 30 against the Dallas Wings and on May 2 against the Nigeria Women’s National Team.
Kelsey Mitchell, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough and Raven Johnson lead Fever
The Indiana Fever controlled the first and fourth quarters against the New York Liberty to earn the easy 109-91 win. Kelsey Mitchell and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough led the way for the Fever, scoring 18 points each.
Sophie Cunningham had 13 points in her first game since her knee injury back in August. Raven Johnson added six points, three rebounds, eight assists, one steal and two blocks.
The South Carolina product looked phenomenal in limited minutes, while fellow rookies Jessica Timmons and Justine Pissott contributed 10 and eight points, respectively.
Caitlin Clark’s Message About Raven Johnson Before Preseason Debut
GettyRaven Johnson and Caitlin Clark during an NCAA game in 2024.
In her pregame media availability on Saturday, Caitlin Clark had nothing but praise for Raven Johnson. There has been some talk of a potential beef between the players, but they continue to squash any narrative surrounding their potential as teammates.
“Raven, who’s going to be a primary ball handler, and trying to conduct the offense, like that’s a big responsibility,” Clark said. “And I think just empowering her to use her voice and also do what she does really well. Great defender, has long arms, gets her hands all over the balls.”
The Fever begin the 2026 WNBA season on May 9 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse against Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd and the rest of the Dallas Wings.
Stephanie White Reveals Key Takeaway From Caitlin Clark’s Rough Preseason Opener