May 15, 2024, 10:41 AM


The 2024 WNBA season kicked off with much anticipation, particularly surrounding Caitlin Clark’s professional debut. Clark, the No. 1 overall pick and NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer, made her first appearance with the Indiana Fever. Despite her impressive stats of 20 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals, Clark faced challenges, committing 10 turnovers and shooting 5-for-15 from the field. Her debut points were second in franchise history for a Fever player, following Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings.


The defending champion Las Vegas Aces, Connecticut Sun, New York Liberty, and Minnesota Lynx all opened their seasons with victories. Alyssa Thomas of the Sun stood out with a triple-double, scoring 13 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, and dishing out 13 assists, leading Connecticut to a 92-71 win over Clark's Indiana Fever.


While the Aces secured a win despite the absence of point guard Chelsea Gray due to injury, the Liberty and Lynx also showed strong performances to start their seasons on a positive note. The Phoenix Mercury faced challenges with injured center Brittney Griner missing from their lineup, impacting their game performance.

The Seattle Storm, featuring new additions Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith, showcased their potential and chemistry in their season opener. The integration of these key players is expected to significantly bolster the Storm's performance this season.


As the season progresses, the impact of star players and the return of injured athletes will be closely watched. Clark’s development and adjustment to the professional level will be a significant storyline, alongside the performance of other top rookies and seasoned veterans. The WNBA’s continued focus on expanding its fan base and maximizing venue capacities underscores its commitment to growth and engagement in women’s sports.


Despite the struggles, Clark managed to score 20 points, showing her innate scoring talent and resilience. Her ability to contribute offensively even on an off night is promising for her future in the league.


  • Turnovers: Clark's 10 turnovers were a prominent issue, particularly because they hindered the Fever's scoring opportunities. The Connecticut Sun's DiJonai Carrington made it particularly challenging for Clark, causing eight of her turnovers and limiting her to 2-of-10 shooting when guarded by Carrington.

Positive Aspects:

  • Scoring Ability: Despite the turnovers, Clark led her team with 20 points, showcasing her scoring talent and potential. Her performance ranks second in franchise history for a Fever player debut, behind Tamika Catchings.

### Voepel: High Expectations and Clark's Learning Curve

Caitlin Clark’s professional debut was defined by the high expectations placed on her, as well as the typical challenges faced by any rookie point guard in the WNBA. 

### Adjusting to the Professional Level

It's expected for rookies like Clark to struggle initially due to the quicker and more experienced defenses in the league. This adjustment period is crucial for her development.


- **Turnovers:** The 10 turnovers in Clark’s debut were significant because they hindered the Fever’s offensive potential. Connecticut guard DiJonai Carrington, a fourth-year pro, was particularly effective in defending Clark, forcing eight of her turnovers. Additionally, Clark struggled with her shooting against Carrington, going 2-of-10 from the field.

- **Confidence and Aggressiveness:** Despite the turnovers and shooting difficulties, Clark maintained her confidence and aggressive style of play. This resilience is a key trait for her future success.
- **Significant Playing Time:** Clark played a team-high 31 minutes, indicating the coaching staff's trust in her abilities and her role as a primary ball handler. This experience is invaluable for her growth.
- **Scoring Ability:** Despite the challenges, Clark led her team with 20 points, showcasing her scoring talent and potential to make a significant impact in the league.

### Learning Curve

Clark understood that there would be a learning curve, especially given the fast-paced nature of the WNBA and the increased responsibilities of handling the ball. The turnovers, while frustrating, are part of this learning process. With time, Clark will learn to better calibrate her passing and make more efficient decisions on the court.


Caitlin Clark's debut highlighted both the immense expectations placed on her and the typical struggles faced by rookie point guards. While the turnovers were a notable issue, her scoring ability, confidence, and significant playing time underscore her potential. As she adapts to the professional level and refines her game, Clark is poised to overcome these early challenges and fulfill the high expectations set for her.


Michael Voepel highlights that the Indiana Fever had their best moments in the second and third quarters of their debut game against the Connecticut Sun. During these periods, the Fever were able to hang with a veteran team expected to finish in the top four in the league.

Areas for Improvement

  • Fourth Quarter Challenges: The Sun pulled away in the fourth quarter, an aspect that Fever coach Christie Sides will likely emphasize in future practices and games. Ensuring strong finishes will be a key focus.
  • Turnovers: The Fever committed 25 turnovers, which significantly hampered their ability to execute their offense consistently. Reducing turnovers will be crucial for their success moving forward.

### Voepel: Aces Navigate Gray's Absence with Team Effort Chelsea Gray's absence due to a foot injury was noticeable for the Las Vegas Aces, particularly in their struggle to effectively attack Phoenix's zone defense during their 89-80 win. ### Adjusting Without Gray **Aces Coach Becky Hammon:** - Highlighted the challenge of not having Gray, especially in terms of making offensive reads and organizing the team. - Saw it as a growth opportunity for the rest of the team to step up and adapt to varying defenses without Gray's leadership on the floor. ### Key Player Performances - **Jackie Young and Kelsey Plum:** - Combined for 42 points and 11 assists with only three turnovers, showcasing their ability to step up in Gray's absence. - **A'ja Wilson:** - Delivered an MVP-caliber performance with 30 points, 18 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks. - Despite her self-criticism for shooting 10-of-22 from the field, Wilson's leadership was crucial. - Emphasized to her teammates the importance of staying true to their identity and not trying to do too much individually. ### Team Dynamics and Growth Wilson’s message to her teammates was about maintaining their identity and understanding that they can excel individually while still supporting and enhancing each other's performances. This perspective is crucial as the team navigates the early season without one of their key players. ### Conclusion The Aces' ability to adapt without Chelsea Gray will be a key storyline moving forward. Their win against Phoenix, powered by strong performances from Young, Plum, and Wilson, indicates that they have the depth and resilience to handle this challenge. The experience of making reads and organizing themselves in Gray's absence will ultimately strengthen the team, providing valuable growth opportunities for the players.

Why did the Storm struggle offensively after adding All-Stars Diggins-Smith and Ogwumike?


### Pelton: Storm Struggle with Offense in Loss to Minnesota

In their 83-70 home loss to Minnesota, the Seattle Storm's lack of cohesion was evident, reflecting a team still finding its rhythm after only two weeks of practice together.

### Offensive Struggles

- **Turnovers and Shooting Woes:** 
  - The Storm committed 17 turnovers and shot just 37% from the field, dropping to 31% in the second half.
  
- **Coach Noelle Quinn:** 
  - Highlighted the lack of offensive flow and ball movement as key issues.
  - Emphasized that the team's stagnant offense made it easier for Minnesota to defend them effectively.
  
### Jewell Loyd's Tough Night

- **Shooting Struggles:**
  - Jewell Loyd's 3-of-19 shooting (16%) was historically poor for the franchise, marking the worst accuracy for a Storm player taking at least 15 shots, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
  
- **Shot Quality:** 
  - According to Second Spectrum tracking, Loyd's quantified shot quality was just 34%. This metric, which considers shot location, type, and defender distance, was the lowest for any player with at least five attempts on Tuesday.

### Moving Forward
The Storm's performance highlighted the challenges of integrating new players and systems with limited practice time. Coach Quinn's focus will likely be on improving ball movement and creating better offensive opportunities to avoid taking difficult, low-percentage shots.

### Conclusion

Seattle's early-season struggles underline the importance of developing team chemistry and offensive cohesion. As the team continues to practice and play together, they will aim to reduce turnovers and improve their shooting efficiency to compete more effectively in future games.

### Pelton: Seattle Storm Face Growing Pains in Loss to Minnesota

After Jewell Loyd set a single-season WNBA record for total points last season on a struggling Storm team (11-29), the arrivals of Skylar Diggins-Smith and Nneka Ogwumike were expected to turn things around. However, in their 83-70 home loss to the Minnesota Lynx, Seattle's lack of cohesion was apparent.


- **Pressure and Habits:** 
  - Coach Noelle Quinn observed that her team reverted to old habits under the pressure of the Lynx and the excitement of the opening night crowd. "It surprised me, but then it made sense... You revert back to your habit, and we have some habit building that needs to take place," Quinn said, emphasizing the challenge of breaking habits with limited practice time.

- **3-Point Struggles:** 
  - Seattle's three-point shooting was a significant concern. The Storm made only one three-pointer, their fewest since the 2016 season opener. They attempted only nine triples, their fewest since 2019, while Minnesota outscored them 21-3 from beyond the arc.

- **Loyd's Tough Night:** 
  - Jewell Loyd, who had an outstanding season last year, struggled with her shot, going 3-of-19. Her shot quality was also low, reflecting the difficulty of the attempts she was taking.


- **Road Challenges:** 
  - The Storm face a challenging start to the season with ten of their first sixteen games on the road. Coach Quinn sees this as an opportunity for the team to bond and work out their issues in tough environments. "For this group in particular, I think it's a great thing because we need to work out some kinks," Quinn noted.

- **Building Chemistry:** 
  - The team's focus will be on improving offensive flow, reducing turnovers, and increasing three-point attempts. The integration of Diggins-Smith and Ogwumike will be crucial as they look to develop chemistry and adapt to Quinn's system.

### Conclusion

Seattle's early-season struggles highlight the challenges of integrating new talent and building cohesion with limited preparation time. As the Storm embark on a tough road trip, they will aim to address their offensive inconsistencies and develop the habits needed to compete at a higher level.

### Voepel: Standouts and Success Stories from the WNBA Opening Night

#### Connecticut Sun:

- **Overall Performance:** Both the Sun and the Fever shot similar percentages from the field, but Connecticut's advantage in shot attempts and turnovers made a significant difference.
- **DeWanna Bonner and Alyssa Thomas:** As expected, Bonner and Thomas played well, contributing 20 points and 6 rebounds each.
- **Backcourt Progress:** Tyasha Harris and DiJonai Carrington showed progress in the backcourt, combining for 32 points. Carrington's exceptional defense further highlighted her impact.
- **Brionna Jones' Return:** After recovering from a right Achilles injury, Jones made a strong return with 8 points and 3 rebounds, providing a boost to the Sun's frontcourt.

#### New York Liberty:

- **Fourth-Quarter Rally:** The Liberty capitalized on a stronger defensive performance in the fourth quarter, led by Jonquel Jones and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton.
- **Jones and Laney-Hamilton's Contributions:** Jones and Laney-Hamilton combined for 45 points and 12 rebounds, leading the charge for the Liberty's offense and defense.
- **Jonquel Jones' Health:** Unlike last season, Jones is fully healthy and ready to contribute from the start of the season, which is promising for the Liberty's prospects.
- **Shakira Austin's Strong Performance:** Despite missing a late putback, Shakira Austin impressed with 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 blocked shots for the Mystics, showcasing her potential after returning from injury.

### Conclusion:

The WNBA's opening night featured standout performances and promising developments for various teams. For the Connecticut Sun, strong backcourt play and the return of Brionna Jones were highlights, while the New York Liberty's fourth-quarter rally and the stellar play of Jonquel Jones and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton propelled them to victory. Additionally, Shakira Austin's strong performance for the Mystics signaled her potential impact after returning from injury.