INDIANAPOLIS — When Indiana Fever fans returned to Gainbridge Fieldhouse for Saturday’s season opener, it seemed everything was back in place.
The street banners dotted the downtown landscape, the handmade signs were visible from any vantage point inside the sold-out arena and, of course, Caitlin Clark jerseys and T-shirts remained a trendy favorite. And why not live it up as the star guard’s 10-month wait to play a meaningful game on her home court finally ended with the weekend’s featured matchup between Clark’s Fever and the Dallas Wings, who are led by point guard Paige Bueckers.
Yet even with the anticipation of seeing two of the league’s most popular players — with Clark the 2024 rookie of the year and Bueckers last season’s honoree after each was a No. 1 overall draft pick — and the other two top picks from the past four drafts squaring off, nobody was more excited to get started than Clark, who missed most of her second pro season due to injuries.
“I think there’s a different juice inside your body when you’re putting on your uniform and you’re mentally locked in to go and play a basketball game,” she said before tipoff. “Like I was excited for my teammates last year, 100% I was their biggest fan. But it’s not the same, it just isn’t.
“I missed having the butterflies in my stomach before a game. Like, I love that, and that means you’re ready.”