Indiana Fever G Caitlin Clark played her first game in N.Y. on Saturday and produced the “best game of her young professional career” with 22 points, eight assists and six rebounds against the Liberty. However, the Liberty cruised to a 91-80 win in front of a sellout crowd of 17,735 at their Barclays Center opener ( N.Y. POST, 5/18 ). The building was “buzzing for the Liberty’s first home game of the season,” which set a franchise record by drawing 17,735 fans. It was “part of an exciting first week” of the WNBA season ( N.Y. TIMES, 5/18 ). N.Y. "welcomed Caitlin Clark with open arms ... even as the enemy." The Liberty were reported to have over $2M in "ticket revenue for the game, a WNBA record." Clark said she thought the “atmosphere was incredible” ( N.Y. POST, 5/19 ).
Tennis HOFer Billie Jean King was "greeted with a standing ovation when they showed her on the scoreboard," while South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley , former WNBAer Sue Bird and former soccer player Megan Rapinoe were also in attendance. "Today With Hoda & Jenna" hosts Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager interviewed Clark before the game and “came away gushing about her" ( N.Y. POST, 5/19 ). Other celebrities in attendance included actors Jason Sudeikis and Amy Ryan and Basketball HOFer Pau Gasol . WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver sat together ( N.Y. TIMES, 5/18 ).
The Fever's first game against the Chicago Sky and
