Caitlin Clark had a fantastic WNBA debut, but Arike Ogunbowale ultimately had the best night.
With three seconds remaining, the sixth-year WNBA guard made a crossover, step-back three, which was Clark’s signature move while he was at Iowa. Clark’s attempt at the buzzer, however, was unsuccessful, and the Wings defeated the Indiana Fever 79-76 in their respective teams’ preseason opener.
Ogunbowale has a history of big-time shot making: She hit game-winning, buzzer-beating 3s in back-to-back games at the 2018 Final Four to lead Notre Dame to the NCAA championship.
Ogunbowale finished Friday night’s contest with 19 points. The game-winner was her only made 3-pointer of the night.
It was maybe the most anticipated preseason game in the 28-year history of the WNBA, with people all over tuning into see what Clark would do at the next level. Early on, she put on a show.
Clark scored 21 points in her first-ever pro game, including 16 in the first half. Clark finished with a solid stat line with three rebounds, two assists and two steals, but there’s no question she’ll be kicking herself about her five turnovers
Jaelyn Brown, a 2020 Cal grad who went undrafted and has spent the last few years playing overseas, led the Wings with 21 points on 7-of-15 shooting. For the Fever, NaLyssa Smith scored 20, and Erica Wheeler chipped in 16.
