Caitlin Clark Didn't Waste Any Time in Return Game With Incredible First Quarter

Clark is back in a big way.
Clark celebrates a three-point barrage against the Liberty
Clark celebrates a three-point barrage against the Liberty / Screengrab via ABC/ESPN

Caitlin Clark returned to the Indiana Fever lineup Saturday after a three-week, five-game absence due to a left quad strain. Her return is a welcome sight for the Fever who went 2-3 without Clark in the lineup.

Ahead of the game, she shut down any thought of a potential minutes restriction, mentioning she didn't want to come back unless she was 100% ready. Well, she was certainly ready to return as she hit three three-pointers and scored nine points in less than 45 seconds during the first quarter against the defending champion New York Liberty.

Each attempt came well beyond the arc as the Liberty tried to do everything they could to defend the three-point barrage. But it was inevitable.

She had 14 points, two assists and two rebounds on 5-for-7 from the field and 3-for-5 from three-point range in the first frame Saturday. The hot stretch continued into the second quarter, too with two more threes to hit the 20-point mark in the first half.

Last year's WNBA Rookie of the Year, who was also named an All-Star in her first season, is averaging 19 points, 9.3 assists and six rebounds per game in four appearances to kick off year two. That scoring average is only going up after an incredible start to her first game back in the Fever lineup.


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Blake Silverman
BLAKE SILVERMAN

Blake Silverman is a contributor to the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Before joining SI in November 2024, he covered the WNBA, NBA, G League and college basketball for numerous sites, including Winsidr, SB Nation's Detroit Bad Boys and A10Talk. He graduated from Michigan State University before receiving a master's in sports journalism from St. Bonaventure University. Outside of work, he's probably binging the latest Netflix documentary, at a yoga studio or enjoying everything Detroit sports. A lifelong Michigander, he lives in suburban Detroit with his wife, young son and their personal petting zoo of two cats and a dog.