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Caitlin Clark’s impressive game not enough as Liberty rip Fever in home opener
Khristina Williams and Myles Ehrlich join Dexter Henry to break down the New York Liberty win over Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever
It would’ve been impossible for the Liberty to nearly eliminate Caitlin Clark’s impact two games in a row. This is Clark.
This is what she does.
For four years at Iowa — and for years to follow in the WNBA — the No. 1 overall pick dictated — and will continue to dictate — games with her step-back shot, her logo 3-pointers and her assists.
Clark, playing her first game in New York City, produced the best game of her young professional career Saturday with 22 points, eight assists and six rebounds.
But the Liberty still built an early 20-point lead and cruised to a 91-80 win in front of a sellout crowd of 17,735 at their Barclays Center opener, securing their first 3-0 start since 2021 and just their second since 2007.
“When you come into this league and you’re a No. 1 pick, everyone’s gonna know where you are on the court at all times,” said Breanna Stewart, who led the Liberty with 24 points. “We know she’s a great player. Just trying to do whatever we can to make it tough.”
Caitlin Clark makes shot against Courtney Vandersloot #22 of the New York Liberty during their home opener at Barclays Center.Michelle Farsi/New York Post
The Liberty, in their first matchup with Clark, found a way to mitigate her success by using Betnijah Laney-Hamiltion to shadow Clark.
With the ball. Without the ball.
Wherever she went.
Laney-Hamiltion said she just focused on video from Clark’s WNBA preseason games and opener — not all the way back to Iowa — to prepare, and when Clark watched film from Thursday, she noticed face-guarding continued even when she didn’t have possession.
That, she thought, was just part of the adjustment and figuring that defensive approach actually benefited the Fever.
And at the start, it worked.
She collected 10 points and three assists in a strong first quarter, and her first 3-pointer gave the Fever a one-point lead midway through the frame.
Caitlin Clark impressed in a loss on Saturday.Michelle Farsi/New York Post
Later, Clark was doubled when she started to execute a step-back 3, and she dished a pass underneath for an easy basket.
Laney-Hamilton was still tasked with defending her.
It was still tough for Clark to create space.
But she found some offensive rhythm, hitting 33- and 29-foot 3s.
“I think just playing with better pace,” Clark said, “and that’s kind of a learning thing. It’s not something I always had to do at Iowa. But in the league, like, everybody’s all over me. They’re hounding me 94 feet.”
Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones react the during their home opener vs Indiana Fever at Barclays Center.Michelle Farsi/New York Post
By that point, though, the Liberty had already built a commanding lead. Jonquel Jones finished with her second straight double-double — and 100th of her career.
The Liberty connected on 15 3s, three shy of the WNBA record.
This was the type of result that was supposed to happen, though.
The Liberty are built to win now.
They have the established stars. The superteam.
Their last game at Barclays Center was a loss to the Aces in Game 4 of the WNBA Finals, when Courtney Vandersloot missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer that would’ve sent the series to a winner-take-all Game 5.
Sabrina Ionescu #20 of the New York Liberty handles ball vs Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever during their home opener at Barclays Center.Michelle Farsi/New York Post
One of these days and one of these years, the Fever will be able to capitalize on Clark’s presence, on her talent, on the buzz that accompanies her at every arena.
Signs were scattered across Barclays Center.
She weaved through a handful of fans pregame and inked autographs. Clark said it was an “incredible” environment.
But the Fever are taking the path that the Seattle Storm and Las Vegas Aces used — with No. 1 picks in two and three consecutive years, respectively — to construct a title-winning roster.
Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty faces off against Caitlin Clark.Michelle Farsi/New York Post
Seattle took Lauren Jackson in 2001, Sue Bird in 2002 and won the title in 2004.
The Aces took Kelsey Plum in 2017, A’ja Wilson in 2018 and Jackie Young in 2019 and are vying for a three-peat this season.
Caitlin Clark signs autographs prior to her game against the New York Liberty for their home opener at Barclays Center.Michelle Farsi/New York Post
Jonquel Jones #35 of the New York Liberty blocks shot against Aliyah Boston #7 of the Indiana Fever.Michelle Farsi/New York Post
“I think the media needs to give her a little bit of grace and time to develop into a player,” Jones said of Clark. “She’s learning every game she’s out there, and obviously her impact on this league is gonna be tremendous and only grow as she matures.
“But just give her some time, man.”
What do you think? Post a comment.
The Fever have the blueprint to follow.
They have the core pieces — Aliyah Boston, the No. 1 pick in 2023, and Clark — in place.
It’ll just take games and weeks and maybe even months to mesh together, and the Liberty benefited from that twice in the first week of their season.
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