Whirlwind WSL Weekend Puts Chelsea Back in the Title Race

The new WNBA season has started, and this is the start of Caitlin Clark's professional basketball career. She made her first appearance during the preseason game for the Indiana Fever last Friday.

Clark was the top scorer for the team with 21 points where five of them came from threes. Additionally, he obtained 16 points, which was the highest of the game by the end of the first half. However, Arike Ogunbowale had the final say, winning the game for Dallas by making an impressive three-point shot just in time before the buzzer, which thrilled the crowd in attendance and led to their win of 79-76.

According to Clark, there will be plenty to review and gain knowledge from since many aspects of the game differ from college. This includes techniques and schemes, as the team doesn't always follow the same approach. However, Clark is proud of the effort they put in and believes they played with great intensity.

Clark finds it most difficult to adjust to the demanding nature and skill level of the WNBA.

She noted that the league is highly competitive and always keeps you on edge, regardless of who joins the game.

In the blog section, it was stated that Coach Christie Sides of the Fever team also gave her thoughts on Clark's performance during the game. She mentioned that the team needs to take precautions to ensure Clark's safety as she faces tougher competition with the W's increase in athleticism. Sides also shared that at a certain point in the game, Clark had become very tired and requested to be substituted out.

Sides expressed concern over the state of their team and emphasized the need for improvement. He explained that one of their players was being heavily guarded and facing challenges such as double teaming, hard hedges, and physical play. Sides recognized that if they continue on this path, it would be detrimental to the player's performance and ability to last throughout the game. He stressed the importance of protecting the player and ensuring that they are able to maintain their energy and skill level throughout all four quarters.

In Dallas that evening, not only Clark but also other rookies made their first appearance in the professional league. Jacy Sheldon, who played for Ohio State, scored six points and got one rebound during the 13 minutes she played on the court. Sadly, she also had an awkward moment that went viral. However, Jaelyn Brown was the star of the night. She graduated from Cal and wasn't drafted in 2020, spending the past years playing overseas. Nevertheless, on Friday, she showed her potential by leading the Wings to the finish line with 21 points. In just 29 minutes, she shot 7 out of 15 and delivered an exceptional performance.

Following the game, Brown confirmed that she is "prepared to participate" in an environment where she "fits in perfectly."

She expressed that she approaches the game in the same manner as any other match. The audience was impressive, although somewhat different from what she's used to abroad, but ultimately it's the same game. She maintained a composed demeanor and executed her abilities to the best of her ability.