Indiana Fever roll, Caitlin Clark dazzles in her return to Carver-Hawkeye Arena

IOWA CITY — Caitlin Clark was about to exit, for good.

But first, there was a shot to replicate.

That record-breaking shot.

“Why not,” she said. “I’d might as well launch one.”

Actually, that last shot — that last moment — came from a step behind the shot in which Clark set the NCAA women’s basketball scoring record on Feb. 15, 2024.

It was estimated at 36 feet.

“It was what everybody wanted to see from Caitlin in this arena,” Indiana Fever Coach Stephanie White said. “That’s who she is. That’s what she does.”

Clark hadn’t played in the Fever’s first preseason game (Saturday at Indianapolis against the Washington Mystics). The reason was listed as a leg injury.

Of course, she was back Sunday. And predictably, she was fantastic.

Clark logged 18 minutes, posting 16 points, six rebounds and five assists as the Fever routed the Brazil National Team, 108-44.

She connected on 6 of 10 shots from the floor, 4 of 6 from long range.

And that one from really long range.

As a result, 15,000 Hawkeye-turned-Fever fans went home satisfied.

One tailgating crew of eight set up camp in a parking lot, maybe a half-mile from Carver-Hawkeye Arena, nearly five hours before tipoff.

Their wardrobe colors ranged from the familiar black and gold, to schemes of blue and gold, or in a couple of cases, red and white.

It’s been a Caitlin Clark town for more than five years. It has become a Fever town since the 2024 WNBA Draft.

“They’re going to be cheering for me. They’re going to be cheering for the entire team,” Clark said before the game.

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This is Year 2 for Clark with the Fever, who are hoping for a whole lot more than a 20-20 record and a first-round playoff exit.

Clark is one of only five players on the current roster that played in Indianapolis last season.

The coach is new, too.

“Caitlin’s attention to detail has stood out to me,” White said. “She doesn’t waste reps, doesn’t waste time.”

White played at Purdue from 1995 through 1999, winning three times in four trips to Iowa City.

“I have fond memories of this place,” White said. “(Iowa) had a lot of great players ... a lot of them were from Indiana and the Chicago area ... Tangela Smith had long arms at the front of that press.

“They would press 94 feet. It was a nightmare for Boilermaker guards like me.”

As for this game, it was no contest.

The Fever scored the first eight points (in less than a minute), led 37-17 after a quarter, 70-24 at halftime.

Clark is hopeful that this Carver appearance is more than a one-time deal.

“I’d love to come back here every year,” she said. “I’m thankful to the WNBA and the Fever for wanting to play a game here.

“And you’ve got to give the Brazil team credit, too. I would tell them, ‘Just enjoy the moment. Soak in every opportunity.’”

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Several members of the Brazilian team approached Clark for autographs shortly after the final buzzer.

White said that showcases like this “allow people that don’t have access to a WNBA arena to experience WNBA basketball.”

Iowa’s first post-Clark team went 23-11 and reached the second round of the NCAA tournament. Virtually the entire roster was courtside Sunday.

“I’m just going to sit back and watch the show,” Iowa Coach Jan Jensen said last week. “It’s going to be fun. I’m going to be sitting right behind — my family has seats about three rows behind our bench, so that’s where we kept them for this game.

“So it will be kind of fun to just see Caitlin in action and not have to have any say in anything. Just kind of watch and observe and probably just stand in awe.”

The Fever open the regular season May 17 at home against the Chicago Sky.

“A championship, that’s our goal,” Clark told ESPN’s Holly Rowe postgame.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com