Caitlin Clark whines about frustrating first half while former No. 1 pick shows what it really means to be a leader

Caitlin Clark got tough love from Aliyah Boston after slow start to WNBA career

Caitlin Clark had 20 points and 10 turnovers in her WNBA debutAP

Caitlin Clark’s WNBA debut did not get off to a smooth start, and her teammates let her know about it. After a miserable first half against the Connecticut Sun, Clark could not hide her frustration when she was shown some tough love from the Indiana Fever‘s last No. 1 pick, Aliyah Boston.

Clark frustrated in WNBA debut

Clark had a scoreless first quarter and got in early foul trouble as she adjusted to the level of physicality in the WNBA. “They punched us in the mouth tonight,” Fever coach Christie Sides said.

If her first half was akin to a sucker punch, it was her teammate Boston who dusted her off in her corner as the two No. 1 draft picks escaped to the locker room at the end of the first half of the Fever’s 92-71 loss to the Sun.

Boston was praised for her leadership in the interaction, attempting to refocus Clark and encourage her, even though the former Iowa star looked like she didn’t want to hear it at first based on her dismissive body language. The tense exchange ended with a reluctant high five, and the rookie made some improvements in the second half.

Caitlin Clark stats vs Connecticut Sun

Clark finished her first professional game with 20 points on 5-for-15 shooting, leading Indiana in scoring. She did not manage a single rebound, and recorded just three assists to 10 turnovers, which was the most ever by a player in her WNBA debut.

“Some uncharacteristic stuff,” Clark said of her mistakes. “I pick up the ball and travel, I dribble off my foot, I pass it on the inbound, I turn it over. So just a few things that are just — you have to be crisper.”

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However, in the spirit of Boston’s positive message to her at halftime, Clark kept her head high.

“I’m disappointed, and nobody likes to lose,” Clark said. “But I don’t think you can beat yourself up too much about one game. I don’t think that’s going to help this team. Just learn from it and move on.”