- WNBA. Caitlin Clark and the record she set in her WNBA debut despite bitter defeat
- WNBA. Caitlin Clark gets a wake-up call from WNBA defenders: Brutal foul by Connecticut Sun
Caitlin Clark has officially arrived in the WNBA -- although the Connecticut Sun spoiled the #1 pick's competitive debut. Clark and the Indiana Fever hung around in the opening game of the 2024 season, but the powerhouse Sun pulled away at the end for a convincing 92-71 victory that showed just how far the Fever have to go in order to contend for a championship.
The Sun have been among the WNBA's top teams in recent seasons and have reached the Finals twice over the past five years, so it is not a big surprise that the young Fever simply could not keep up with them. And on a night when Clark debuted to much anticipation, it was one of Connecticut's stars who stole the spotlight instead.
"The Engine" motors into 2024
Sun forward Alyssa Thomas stepped up on the occasion of Clark's debut and wrote her own headlines with a season-opening triple-double at Mohegan Sun Arena. One of the most unique players in the WNBA, Thomas stuffed the stat sheet with Nikola Jokic-like frequency.
Thomas, who plays as a point forward and effectively dictates Connecticut's offense, ed 13 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds against the Fever. It was her ninth career triple-double. All other players in the WNBA's 27-year history have combined for 21 triple-doubles.
Last season, Thomas came narrowly second in MVP voting behind New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart -- even though she received more first-place votes than Stewart in a historically-close tally. Thomas, who was drafted by the Liberty in 2014 and subsequently traded to the Sun, continues to pile up gaudy statistics despite playing with a torn labrum in each shoulder -- contributing to her distinctive one-handed shooting style.
With Thomas simply picking up where she left off in 2023, the Sun are considered among the WNBA's championship favorites and can give the Fever something to build toward in the coming years -- as young stars like Clark, Aliyah Boston, and NaLyssa Smith continue to develop. In the meantime, though, the league belongs to players like Thomas and her partner DeWanna Bonner -- who became the fifth-leading scorer in WNBA history on Tuesday after scoring 20 points against Indiana.