Important future WNBA dates for Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark
However, Hawkeye supporters are looking forward to Clark’s next move in her basketball career. The general belief is that the Indiana Fever will select Caitlin Clark as the first overall pick in the upcoming 2024 WNBA draft, even though it won’t be official until next week.
That’s how the WNBA is preparing as well. The Indiana Fever will play 36 of 40 games on national television during the franchise’s 25th season, according to the WNBA’s schedule announcement.
Between Iowa’s journey to another Final Four in the tournament, the national championship game, and the start of the Fever’s training camp, Clark only gets a little respite. Here are some anticipated crucial days for Clark and the Fever, assuming that Clark does finish first overall, now that the Fever’s itinerary has been made public.
NBA Draft
Even though it’s inevitable that Caitlin Clark will be chosen by the Indiana Fever with the first overall choice, that will formally happen on Monday night. Opening Training Camp Game: Dallas Wings vs. Indiana Fever, First Preseason Game, One of the Indiana Fever’s two preseason games against the Dallas Wings in early May will mark Caitlin Clark’s WNBA debut.
Indiana Fever vs. Atlanta Dream: Indiana’s first home preseason game
Fans in Indiana will get the opportunity to see Caitlin Clark in person while she dons a Fever uniform on May 10 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse during the Fever’s second and last preseason game against the Atlanta Dream.
First Connecticut Sun WNBA regular season game
In Caitlin Clark’s first-ever WNBA game, the Indiana Fever travel to Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, to play the Connecticut Sun. With an overall record of 27-13, the Connecticut Sun concluded the 2023 WNBA regular season in third place in the league standings. The Sun defeated the Minnesota Lynx in their opening round playoff series before losing four games to the New York Liberty in the semifinals.
Forwards DeWanna Bonner, Brionna Jones, and Alyssa Thomas are from Connecticut. During the previous season, those three players averaged 17.4, 15.9, and 15.5 points, respectively. On Monday, May 20, and on Wednesday, August 28, Indiana will host Connecticut. On Monday, June 10, the fever made another trip to Connecticut.
WNBA regular season opener at home against the New York Liberty
On May 16, Caitlin Clark will play her first home game as an Indiana Fever player against the New York Liberty. The Liberty, led by players Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu, finished second in the 2023 WNBA Finals.
Together, they helped New York win 32 games throughout the regular season and secure a second-place finish in the league standings. In 2023, Stewart and Ionescu scored 40.0 points apiece on average. Two nights later, the game will take place in New York City instead of Indianapolis. Their remaining season series consists of games on Sunday, June 2, in New York, and on Saturday, July 6, in Indiana.
The first game on network television
Caitlin Clark’s debut network broadcast match as a WNBA player will take place on one of the aforementioned days between the Indiana Fever and the New York Liberty. In addition, Clark has scheduled network TV appearances against the Chicago Sky on Sunday, June 16, the New York Liberty on Saturday, July 6, and the Seattle Storm on Sunday, August 18, all on CBS.
First visit to Hollywood versus the Sparks
On Friday, May 24, Caitlin Clark and the Fever travel to Hollywood to play the Los Angeles Sparks. It will be Indiana’s only trip to Los Angeles this year. The Sparks will also be hosted by Clark and the Fever on Tuesday, May 28, and Wednesday, September 4. The Los Angeles Sparks missed the playoffs with a 17-23 record in the previous campaign.
First game versus the Las Vegas Aces, the reigning champions
On Saturday, May 25, Caitlin Clark and the Fever will play the Las Vegas Aces, the two-time defending WNBA champions. The game will be on NBA TV. Additionally, Clark will take on the Aces in Vegas on Tuesday, July 2, in Indianapolis on Wednesday, September 11, and on Friday, September 13.
Jackie Young, Kelsey Plum, and A’ja Wilson are the stars that lead the Aces. They won the WNBA repeat championship last season with an average of 22.8 points, 18.7 points, and 17.6 points per game from the trio.
The Chicago Sky versus the first visit to the Windy City
Caitlin Clark is visiting the Windy City for the first time as a professional. An Iowa victory in the Windy City appears plausible given the significant number of Hawkeye supporters and alumni residing in the Chicago region. The Chicago Sky finished the season as the No. 8 seed and lost to the Las Vegas Aces, who went on to win the WNBA championship twice. Chicago’s regular season record was 18–22 at the end.