Caitlin Clark gave fans exactly what they came for in Sunday’s WNBA preseason matchup between the Indiana Fever and Brazil’s national team. Late in the third quarter, Clark paused near the iconic “22” painted on Iowa’s Carver-Hawkeye Arena court—the same spot where she broke the NCAA women’s scoring record in her senior year—and sank a deep three-pointer. The crowd erupted.
“Ah, why not?” Clark said with a grin. “Had to give the fans a little something.”
Back in the arena where she built her legendary college career, Clark played just under 19 minutes but left a lasting impression, scoring 16 points in Indiana’s commanding 108–44 win. She hit her first three-pointer just 34 seconds into the game from the beak of Iowa’s midcourt “Tigerhawk” logo—a shot reminiscent of countless jaw-dropping moments she delivered as a Hawkeye.
Each shot sent waves of cheers through the sold-out crowd of 14,998. The atmosphere felt like old times, with roars that echoed her NCAA tournament runs and back-to-back appearances in national championship games.
“It’s amazing to see how many people love her,” said Fever forward Makayla Timpson.
Clark had missed the team’s preseason opener the day before due to a leg injury but insisted she’d suit up for this one. Though still clearly managing discomfort—at one point pedaling a stationary bike behind the bench—she pushed through and finished with an efficient stat line: 6-of-10 shooting, six rebounds, and five assists.
“There’s just something about this gym,” Clark said. “It brings out the best in me.”
This was her second trip back to Carver-Hawkeye Arena since leaving Iowa. Her jersey, No. 22, was retired there in February after a game against USC. Clark made it clear that this game wasn’t just about her. “I’ve told my teammates, yeah, they’re going to cheer for me, but they’ll be cheering for you too. That’s what makes these fans special—they support the whole team.”
The welcome she received was thunderous—crowd noise hit 116 decibels during pregame introductions and climbed to 117 after her first three-pointer. None of it surprised Fever head coach Stephanie White, who previously covered Clark’s games for ESPN and coached against her in the WNBA.
“To bring Caitlin back here and let the team feel this energy—it’s an amazing opportunity,” White said.
Iowa head coach Jan Jensen shared the excitement. “To pack this place in May? Are you kidding me? We’re just proud.”
Tickets for the event became a hot commodity as soon as the game was announced. According to ticket analysis firm Victory Live, the average resale price hit $440, making it Clark’s most in-demand event yet. Prices ranged from $146 to a staggering $2,368 on the secondary market.
Clark waved to the crowd as she exited after her third-quarter highlight shot, soaking in one final cheer.
“My goal,” she said, “is to get them involved. Get them loud.”
