In a remarkable display, Caitlin Clark led the Indiana Fever to a crucial victory over the Phoenix Mercury at Diana Taurasi’s home court. Despite not having her most efficient shooting night, the top draft pick came close to achieving a triple-double, contributing 15 points, 12 assists, and nine rebounds. Her performance earned her a standing ovation from the Phoenix crowd, a rare gesture for a visiting player in the WNBA.
Online, fans expressed their astonishment at Clark’s impact. One user marveled, “How many WNBA rookies can pack over 16,750 seats, help secure a tough road win, and receive a standing ovation from the opposing crowd? Caitlin Clark is truly unique.”
Another tweet proclaimed, “Reality check: Caitlin Clark is the Rookie of the Year.”
Acknowledging the respect shown by the Phoenix crowd, a fan commented, “Kudos to the Phoenix crowd for honoring CC and the Fever for their hard-earned victory. The crowd’s response was more respectful and professional than their team’s performance.”
Commentators also weighed in on the unprecedented nature of Clark’s reception. Keith Murphy remarked, “Unreal. Listen to that. A road game.”
A standing ovation from the Phoenix crowd as Caitlin Clark walks off following her near triple-double performance 🙌#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/9CIjDEsQUs
— WNBA (@WNBA) June 30, 2024
Christine Brennan highlighted Clark’s impact on women’s sports, noting, “We’ve never seen anything quite like this. Caitlin Clark brings pure entertainment: sold-out road games, high TV ratings, magical plays, and compelling storylines. It’s also heartening to see Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner warmly greet Clark. A rising tide…”
With this win, the Fever improved to 8-12 for the season and are now just half a game behind the Dream for the third spot in the Eastern Conference.