Caitlin Clark, the newest star of the WNBA, will play her first game in Los Angeles Friday evening when the Indiana Fever face off against another rookie sensation Cameron Brink and the Sparks.
The Fever are in the middle of a three-game West Coast trip that began with a loss against the Seattle Storm on Wednesday. The team will conclude the trip against the two-time defending WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces on Saturday.
The Sparks (1-2) are coming off a 70-68 win against the Washington Mystics on Tuesday night. The Fever are still searching for their first win.
Friday night’s game at Crypto.com Arena will be a battle between the top two picks in the 2024 WNBA Draft. Clark was the No. 1 selection and Brink was the No. 2 pick, while Sparks forward Rickea Jackson was the No. 4 selection.
Clark’s efforts have not yet translated into the win column for the Fever.
“You’re never happy to lose,” Clark told reporters Wednesday following the 85-83 loss to Seattle. “It’s not fun, but at the same time, there’s just a lot of things to build on. I’m just trying to be as positive as possible, continue to learn, continue to stack days. I know that first win will be right around the corner.”
The most anticipated rookie class of the WNBA’s 28-year history has brought unprecedented interest in the league. The Sparks are aiming to ride the WNBA’s wave of popularity to revive the organization that has fallen from grace during a three-season playoff drought.
This will be Clark’s only regular-season game in L.A. this year. Tipoff is at 7 p.m.