By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Caitlin Clark’s first home game in more than nine months was supposed to be a celebration.
Instead, she gave the Indiana Fever and fans a scare Thursday night.
Clark crumpled to the ground early in the third quarter when Dallas forward Alanna Smith collided with her leg on a shot attempt, and then limped toward the bench as she walked off the injury during a replay review that resulted in a Flagrant 1 call. The two-time All-Star then made two free throws before departing and watching the rest of the game from the bench.
“I feel good. I just landed on my kneecap really hard,” Clark said after scoring 21 points in a 95-80 loss to the Wings. “I know there’s a committee of people that really wanted them (the refs) to start calling things, and I thought they did a great job of that. Honestly, I thought the refs were great, and it’s preseason so you’re probably going to see more fouls called. I expect that number to drop. But I think overall, it’s going to improve the product.”
Initially, it looked as if little had changed since Clark last suited up in Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 13, when the Fever beat Dallas.
The pregame autograph line snaked through the seats, the No. 22 jerseys and Clark T-shirts were as fashionable Thursday night as they were during her record-breaking rookie season, and, naturally, Clark was greeted with the usual loud cheers during player introductions.
Sure, it was only a preseason game, but it did feature the league’s last two Rookie of the Year award winners — Clark and Paige Bueckers. Yet Fever fans had been yearning for this moment since Clark went down July 15 with a right groin injury that forced her to miss the All-Star Game and the All-Star weekend festivities in Indianapolis, as well as Indiana’s final 22 regular-season games and its incredible run to the WNBA semifinals.
The long absence only made Thursday’s game an even bigger deal.
“This is the first (Fever) game I’ve been to — ever,” said Nikki Niccun, dressed in a No. 22 jersey. “I’ve seen every one on TV, but this is the first time in person. I know it’s a preseason game, but I’m excited.”
Clark first returned to the court for Team USA in the FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifying games in early March, then helped the Fever open the preseason with a 109-91 victory at New York despite a 2-for-10 shooting performance.
This time, Clark looked more like herself. She scored 14 of her 21 points in the first quarter, had four assists, three turnovers and two rebounds while going 4 of 6 from the field and 11 of 13 at the free throw line in 16 minutes.
“We had planned for her to come out about that time anyway,” coach Stephanie White said. “It was just an extra precaution getting her out in that moment, but the plan was for her to start the third quarter and then get her out quickly.”
White also held out All-Star center Aliyah Boston for the second straight game because of a lower leg injury. All-Star guard Kelsey Mitchell finished with 10 points in 17 minutes.
Not everyone came to see Clark, though.
A smattering of fans also showed up in Bueckers jerseys, and she dazzled the crowd by scoring 20 points in 20 minutes on 8-of-12 shooting. Rookie Azzi Fudd, the No. 1 overall draft pick, added four points in 16 minutes as the Wings used a 22-5 second quarter run to seize control with a 53-26 lead. They never trailed again.
Whether that’s an indication one of last season’s 10-win teams could be headed for major improvement remains to be seen.
And though there were plenty of empty seats Thursday night, a rarity when Clark takes the stage, longtime Clark admirers welcomed the chance to get an early look at what they anticipate will be a big season.
“They’re going to bounce back,” Niccun said. “We’re going to be all right.”
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