Caitlin Clark’s entrance into her professional basketball career was marked on Monday night as she was selected by the Indiana Fever with the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft.
The University of Iowa standout, known for her record-breaking scoring in college and her captivating style of play that has attracted many new fans to the sport, heard her name called by WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert at a packed venue in Brooklyn.
“This moment has been a dream since second grade, and it’s been a journey of hard work with many ups and downs,” Clark said on stage. “I’m just trying to soak it all in.”
The selection of Clark by Indiana was expected, especially after she announced her decision to forego her final college season earlier this year.
Her impending arrival has sparked excitement, leading to increased ticket sales and expanded national TV coverage for the Fever’s games.
The draft continued with other notable selections, including Cameron Brink (Stanford) going to the Los Angeles Sparks at No. 2 and Kamilla Cardoso (South Carolina) to the Chicago Sky at No. 3.
The night also saw strong reactions when LSU’s Angel Reese was chosen by the Chicago Sky with the seventh pick.
Clark’s whirlwind week included receiving the John R Wooden Award in Los Angeles before attending the draft in New York, where she made a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live and participated in pre-draft events like lighting the Empire State Building.
Standing at 6 feet tall, Clark joins a promising young core in Indianapolis and is expected to invigorate a Fever organization aiming to boost attendance and return to playoff contention.
The league is capitalizing on Clark’s popularity, with a significant increase in national TV coverage planned for the Fever’s games this season.
This attention reflects Clark’s impact on the sport and her potential to elevate the Fever’s profile in the WNBA.
