PHOTO: Young Caitlin Clark Fan Goes Viral for Her Sign During Indiana Fever Star’s WNBA Debut

Caitlin Clark inspires young fanCaitlin Clark be(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Caitlin Clark displayed her exceptional talent in her college days at Iowa, which forced hoop enthusiasts from every corner to tune in to witness her brilliance on the hardwood. Her outstanding contribution to basketball made people go gaga over her, and she became an inspiration for the younger generation.

As she entered the bigger pond, the WNBA with the Indiana Fever, her craze grew even further. In her preseason debut game against Dallas, a young girl holding a placard was seen delivering the message “When I grow up I wanna be like her”, Caitlin Clark was written at the bottom along with a heart. The picture soon surfaced on the internet, and it was a moment of pride for the budding star.

After winning the AAU Sullivan Award a couple of days ago, Clark said, “I have been inspired by so many athletes that came before me and I hope I can be that same inspiration for the next generation to follow their dreams.”

On Friday night’s game, all eyes were on Clark who scored 21 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals for the Fever, but that wasn’t enough to save the franchise from losing 79-76, to which the 6-footer had an unexpected reaction.

Caitlin Clark reacts to debut loss

The result might not have been as competitive as Clark’s expectations, but her debut was. In a post-game interview, Clark told ESPN, “I thought we played really hard. Just a great atmosphere for women’s basketball.” She further added, “I think it’s a good kickoff to the WNBA season.”

While expressing satisfaction with certain aspects of Friday’s game, the 22-year-old mentioned that they could have executed their offensive side in a better way but the night overall went as she had anticipated.

Despite the preseason loss, the guard showcased an outstanding debut. The Fever will face the Connecticut Sun as their regular season kicks off on May 14, which will test Caitlin Clark’s abilities to smash records and climb the staircase of excellence in the pro league.

VIDEO: Social Media Was Saying The Same Thing About The WNBA After Caitlin Clark’s Creepy Experience At A Dallas Airport

Caitling Clark walking through airportCaitlin Clark (Photo via @HowertonNews/Twitter)
Fans all had the same complaint after coming across a video of new WNBA guard Caitlin Clark walking through an airport.

Clark, who was selected No. 1 overall by the Indiana Fever at last month’s WNBA Draft, landed at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport on Thursday night for a game against the Dallas Wings.

It didn’t take Clark and her teammates long before people began following them. WFAA reporter Matt Howerton recorded the team walking through baggage claim, with another man shown walking alongside, filming without saying anything.

Check it out below:

Fans on social media were quick to suggest that the WNBA should treat their players to chartered flights to avoid situations like these.

 

“this is too much. get the chartered planes thing amended. should have happened so long ago and now its about to all get super weird,” reporter Whitney Medworth wrote.

Also Read: VIDEO: Caitlin Clark Had “Weird” Moment With Fan In The Stands During Indiana Pacers Playoff Game

“If they’re not gonna get chartered planes, they should at least be able to get chartered off a tarmac onto their bus to avoid these interactions bc it’s going to get so, so much worse,” another user noted.

You can see some more reactions below:

The WNBA Cannot Afford To Put Caitlin Clark Or Any Other Player On Chartered Flights

Unlike the NBA, the WNBA does not put its players on chartered flights. While it’s been the cause of complaint for a long time, the league simply cannot afford such luxuries at the moment.

Of course, having someone with Caitlin Clark’s star power could put them in a better position regarding TV rights negotiations and various other deals. But we’ll have to wait and see how big of a draw the former Iowa guard turns out to be for the WNBA.