Caitlin Clark and NaLyssa Smith shine in the most-attended Fever game ever
The Indiana Fever, in their only preseason game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse this season, did not disappoint, overcoming a double-digit deficit to defeat the Atlanta Dream 80-83 on May 9.
Approximately 13,028 fans gathered in Downtown Indianapolis, making it the most-attended Fever home game in the franchise’s history. The previous record belonged to a game 24 years ago in May 2000, the franchise’s first-ever home game, bringing in 9,024 people.
Young fans draped in Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark jerseys and t-shirts, appeared to see the NCAA all-time leading scorer get her first bucket in Gainbridge. Luckily, it would not take long for Clark to do so, notching a swift layupĀ muchĀ to those same fans’ satisfaction.
Clark spoke about the fans at Gainbridge following the contest.
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“This is a preseason game on a Thursday nightĀ andĀ there are 13,000 people here. IĀ think that shows what itĀ is going toĀ be like for us all season.” Clark said. “It is incredible.Ā 13,000Ā fans at a preseason game is pretty unheard of.”
The Fever could not find their footing early in the contest, trailing 30-24 at the end of the first quarter. Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray did not miss in the first frame, tallying six points, including a well-contested three-pointer. Veteran Atlanta Dream forward Cheyenne Parker-Tyus, currently in her ninth season, amassed seven points on 100% shooting.
Indiana Fever forward NaLyssa Smith was efficient early, putting up five points and two rebounds.Ā One of theĀ biggest highlights for Smith came when she, guarded by Parker-Tyus, performed a behind-the-back dribble, ultimately sending the defender to the floor. Smith finished the possession with a layup, triggering the audience into a tizzy.
Following the contest, SmithĀ was askedĀ if Clark helps expand her game.Ā
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“H**l yeah, it has been great,” Smith said. “A lot ofĀ people are going to focus on [Clark],Ā soĀ that gives us an opportunity to show that everybody can score the ball. We have a lot more years together.”
Despite the team trailing by 15 points in the first half, Indiana Fever rookie guard Celeste Taylor managed to reduce the deficit with a buzzer-beating push shot in the paint, catching back up to the Dream 49-48 before heading into the locker room for halftime.
Indiana Fever head coach Christie Sides, a former assistant coach for the Atlanta Dream, shared her feelings of her team’s lack of defense in the first half.
“I did not like the fact that we gave up 45 points in the first fifteen minutes of the game. ThatĀ was like transition defense,” Sides said after the game. “WeĀ gave up like 15 or 18 [points] in transition …, It just can’t happen.”
Sides must have preached similar sentiments to her team at halftime, as IndianaĀ played sound basketball in the second half, limiting the Dream to 31 points. Much of this attributes to Atlanta’s poor shooting, making less than 29% of their shots in the second half. The Fever scored 38 points in the paint versus Atlanta’s 28.Ā
Clark and company continued with an assertive defensive performance, sending back eleven shots. Four of those blocks came from reigning Rookie of the Year Indiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston, including a chase-down block on former University of South Carolina teammate Gray.
Smith finished the contest with 21 points and six rebounds, leading all scorers. Clark amassed twelve points and six assists while Boston put up eleven points and four rebounds. Taylor notched six points and two blocks off the bench.
With the preseason officially wrapped up, the Fever open the regular season against the Sun in Connecticut on May 14.Ā They will play their firstĀ home game of theĀ 2024 WNBA regular season against the New York LibertyĀ on May 16Ā at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
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Contact multi-media & senior sports reporter Noral Parham III at (317)-762-7846 orĀ viaĀ email at noralp@indyrecorder.com. Follow him on Twitter @3Noral. For more news similar to the Indiana Fever versus Atlanta Dream preseason matchup, visit our Fever archive here.