Caitlin Clark has many skills that make her such a fun player to watch. Her ability to confidently hit deep threes is definitely one of them. Fever fans love few things more than when Clark drains a long three. New Fever head coach Stephanie White seems just as enticed by her star’s confidence from beyond the arc.
Clark’s return to Iowa in a preseason game against the Brazilian national team was a big affair. Fans turned out in masses and were treated to a strong performance by the Fever and Caitlin Clark. The highlight for Iowa fans was undoubtedly when Clark hit a long three from behind the spot from which she broke the NCAA scoring record.
Fever fans should expect many more of those shots throughout the season. Clark has the green light from Stephanie White.
“Nobody tells Steph Curry not to take good shots, right?” White said when asked about Clark’s long threes after the game.
Not only did she compare Clark to one of the best shooters in the history of basketball, but she also made it clear that Clark is free to take deep threes. However, White also stressed that the timing of those deep threes matters. They can be massive momentum changes, after all.
Caitlin Clark’s preseason debut hints at what’s to come in the 2025 season
The Fever have now won two preseason games. Their first win was a battle against the Washington Mystics that required overtime and a huge performance from Sophie Cunningham. The second game was a rout, as the Fever took down the Brazilian national team 108-44.
One major difference was Caitlin Clark’s presence. She missed the first game with some tightness in her leg but looked great at her Alma Mater. Clark finished the game with 16 points, six rebounds, five assists, and one block. The offense ran smoothly when she was on the court, and the Fever showed flashes of what will make them dangerous during the 2025 WNBA season.
The Caitlin Clark Effect was also in full effect. Her return to Iowa drew a crowd of almost 15,000 fans. For comparison, in the 2024 season, the Fever and Mystics set a new attendance record in September when 20,711 fans came out to watch them play. That was a regular-season game, in which the outcome actually mattered.
Preseason games are important because they allow teams to get some in-game experience before the regular season, and they offer opportunities for some players to claim roster spots. The outcome usually doesn’t matter as much. And yet, the game between the Fever and the Brazilian national team drew a huge crowd. The main reason was undoubtedly Clark’s return to Iowa, but Fever fans will also come out in masses during the regular season.