No. 22’s return to Iowa City, this time playing at Carver-Hawkeye Arena as a WNBA superstar, saw the Indiana Fever grab a 108-44 win over the Brazilian National Team in Sunday’s exhibition game.
Caitlin Clark, despite having to sit out Saturday’s preseason game against the Washington Mystics, grabbed 16 points, the leading scorer on the floor behind teammate Kelsey Mitchell, who had 17 points.
With Clark among the contest’s starters, it wasn’t long before the shots started falling. Despite heavy defensive pressure from Brazil, the Iowa alum soon stepped back into her sweet spot behind the arc and launched in her first bucket of the afternoon.
After an initial Fever run, it was Brazil’s turn to showcase its skills with a quick two-point shot putting it on the board. Moments later, a 1-for-2 trip to the line and two consecutive baskets put the Brazilians within a point of tying the game, trailing 8-7.
Indiana’s defensive pressure, however, coupled with several shooters heating up, allowed the Fever to make the most of their first quarter. Brazil lost several possessions to costly errors such as a trip out of bounds and a shot clock violation, all while Indiana ended the first quarter with a 77.8 percent clip from downtown, leading 37-17.
“They play pretty fearless,” Fever head coach Stephanie White said in a press conference before the game. “They play hard. They compete at a high level. They do a really good job of getting downhill, getting to the rim.”
Despite Brazil’s talented athletes, Clark kicked off the second quarter with her third bucket of the day, further fueling the Carver crowd. With a layup just over two minutes into the second quarter, the guard was at double figures not even halfway through the game.
The Fever’s steady shooting and full-court press ultimately kept them up going into the half, 70-24.
With momentum favoring Indiana, the Fever continued to grow their lead in the second half with a quick shot by guard Kelsey Mitchell and a layup by South Carolina alum Aliyah Boston growing the gap to 75-24.
On the defensive end of the court, Indiana continued its press to get stops, forcing multiple turnovers and rushed shots. The arena again erupted when Clark returned to the game with just over two minutes left in the third quarter. The guard’s flashy passes created multiple opportunities for the Fever to nab points, including a layup by Alberta, Canada, native Yvonne Ejim.
With the seconds ticking away near the end of the third quarter, Clark reached 16 points with a long shot closer to half court than the three-point line, bringing the arena to its feet. Indiana crossed the threshold of 100 points in the fourth quarter before ultimately ending the game with a 108-44 victory.
“Sometimes it feels like the pressure is always taking another level and another level,” Clark said before the game. “I always remind myself it’s not a moment I haven’t been in before. I understand the expectations, I understand the pressure, and whether that’s good or bad, I wouldn’t want that any other way.”