Caitlin Clark delivered a standout performance in her early professional career, yet it fell short of securing the Indiana Fever’s inaugural victory of the season.

In front of a packed crowd of 17,735 at the Barclays Center, Breanna Stewart led the New York offense with 24 points, propelling the Liberty to a 91-80 win over Clark and the Fever on Saturday.

Clark, notching 22 points alongside eight assists and six rebounds, displayed her best performance yet in the season’s three games, despite grappling with eight turnovers.

Reflecting on her performance, Clark stated, “I thought I came out and just played harder, and I think that’s really just my biggest focus going forward. Just come out and compete and play hard. Our whole group did that.”

With Clark’s debut in New York and the Liberty’s home opener, the game generated over $2 million in ticket revenue, setting a WNBA record.

Stewart commented on the significance of Clark’s impact, saying, “I think the buzz and eyes that Caitlin has brought from Iowa now to the WNBA is going to be a collective win for all.”

The matchup marked the second consecutive meeting between the teams, with New York claiming a 36-point victory on Thursday. Although the Fever displayed a stronger performance this time, guard Kelsey Mitchell emphasized the need for improvement.

“It was better, but we shouldn’t be happy,” Mitchell said. “We didn’t lose by 40, so I’ll take it.”

As the first overall pick in the WNBA draft, Clark entered the game averaging 14.5 points, 4.5 assists, and 3.5 rebounds for the winless Fever.

“This arena is amazing,” Clark remarked on her experience playing in New York for the first time. “It’ll be fun for me to go around to all the new WNBA arenas and kind of check off the box.”

Drawing a notable crowd of sports celebrities and fans, Clark impressed with her performance, showcasing her scoring prowess in the first quarter. Despite her efforts, Indiana trailed by double digits throughout the game, unable to narrow the gap despite Clark’s remarkable long-range shots.

The Liberty’s dominance persisted into the second half, with all five starters contributing multiple 3-pointers, securing their third consecutive victory of the season. Though Indiana faced another defeat, Clark’s stellar play undoubtedly left a lasting impression on the crowd.