Caitlin Clark made her much-anticipated return to the WNBA regular season on Saturday, leading the Indiana Fever in a thrilling, high-scoring opener against the Dallas Wings at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Despite a hard-fought effort, the Fever fell just short, losing 107-104 in a game that had fans on the edge of their seats.

Clark, the former Iowa superstar now in her third WNBA season, delivered an efficient and impactful performance. Playing 31 minutes, she scored 20 points on 7-for-18 shooting from the field, including 2-for-9 from beyond the arc, and a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line. She also dished out seven assists and grabbed five rebounds. A key highlight was her third-quarter surge, where she scored the majority of her points, helping the Fever erase a nine-point halftime deficit and keep the game competitive down the stretch.

The game also marked a significant career milestone for Clark. Her layup at the end of the third quarter was the 1,000th point of her WNBA career—a testament to her scoring prowess and consistency since entering the league.

While Clark might have wanted a few more of her trademark deep three-pointers to fall, this performance is a promising start to the season. It shows she’s already in rhythm and ready to build on her legacy as one of the league’s most exciting players.

The Fever will have a break before their next game, traveling to Los Angeles on May 13 to face the Sparks at Crypto.com Arena. Tip-off is set for 9:30 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on USA Network. For fans of Clark and the Fever, this season is just getting started, and if this opener is any indication, there’s plenty of drama and excitement ahead.