Caitlin Clark first game results: Fever rookie star scores 20 points but has 10 turnovers in WNBA Debut

Clark talked earlier about learning when to set up teammates and when to be aggressive as a pro point guard. She's taking on the aggressive part now to try and drag Indiana back into the game. She's up to 20 points in 28 minutes in her pro debut, which is kind of wild given how difficult her night has gone.

There are a ton of new fans out there (WNBA diehards, look away!) so a quick reminder, Alyssa Thomas is playing with two torn labrums. Hence why she shoots the way she does. She was a triple-double machine last year and averaged nearly a triple-double en route to second in MVP voting. She's near her first trip-doub of the season heading into the final 10 minutes with eight points, 10 assists and six rebounds. That line was a rarity in the WNBA until the last couple of seasons.

DeWanna Bonner's layup moved her into fifth on the WNBA all-time scoring list over Candice Dupree (6,895). She comes out of the huddle to roaring applause from the home crowd during the arena's announcement and lifts her arms to accept them. Diana Taurasi is the league's all-time leader with 10,108 going into tonight. The two won two titles in Phoenix together. Tina Thompson, Tamika Catchings and Tina Charles (active with Atlanta) stand between them.

The Indiana starting five is a young group. Clark's a rookie, Boston is in her second year and Smith in her third. There's also been a lot of hoopla on the franchise over the past month. We'll see if they settle in a little here and play with pace, but avoid rushing.

There it is! Big cheers for Clark's first 3 of her pro career from the left side where she broke the NCAA DI women's all-time scoring record. She's had a tough start against this veteran Sun group. Maybe getting that 3 out of the way will break some nerves (even though she said again today she doesn't get nervous before games)

Was really hoping to see Clark pull up and attempt a 3 over DeWanna Bonner's wingspan. She came flying out of inbound pass to her spot. Instead, her first points are a driving layup that she foreshadowed with reporters about 90 minutes before tip.

"Honestly, what I've thought about is, like, it'd be nice to get a layup as my first basket. Why not get a high percentage to start it off, right?"

Tough introduction to the WNBA's best for Caitlin Clark. She fouled Alyssa Thomas twice in the opening minutes and rode the bench for most of the first quarter. Through one, she's played 5:13 with one assist and one turnover. NaLyssa Smith (two fouls) and reserve forward Temi Fagbenle (three) are also in early trouble. Aliyah Boston draws her first in the opening seconds of the second quarter. The Sun are known being a physical, tough group and it's proving problematic for the young Indiana squad early.

For Connecticut: Brionna Jones makes her first start after an Achilles injury kept her out most of last season. Her last start was June 20, 2023.

For Indiana: Looks like Wheeler slots into point guard and Clark at shooting guard. Shooting guard Kelsey Mitchell, who will move into the starting lineup when she's fully healthy and ready from an ankle injury, is available off the bench.

Greetings from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, where we're still about 30 minutes from tip-off. The Sun announced an official sell out on Monday with 8,910 tickets sold. Capacity is about 10,000. It's the franchise's first sold-out home opener since its inaugural game in here in 2003 after four seasons as the Orlando Miracle. Fans queued outside the arena doors before 5 p.m., many in No. 22 Clark T-shirts.