Caitlin Clark has finally made her WNBA debut after spending nearly four decorated years at college basketball.

From committing to the Iowa Hawkeyes, Clark stepped up on the women’s basketball ladder with the Indiana Fever. However, the start had to face adversity on its face as the Fever fell to the Connecticut Sun 92-71 on Tuesday night.

The game saw Caitlin Clark, the NCAA’s all-time Division I scoring leader, overcoming early setbacks to deliver a commendable performance, ultimately finishing with 20 points. The Indiana Fever made a late surge in the third quarter but were unable to bridge the gap further, resulting in a heartening defeat.

However, if we zoom out a little bit, we could find similarities between Caitlin Clark’s WNBA debut and NBA great Michael Jordan’s debut.

As the Sun’s suffocating defense forced Clark into a game-high 10 turnovers, contributing to the Fever’s 25 turnovers overall and also managed to drill four 3-pointers.

Also Read: Why Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley Missed Inside the NBA? Here’s What We Know

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Caitlin Clark and Michael Jordan Have a Lackluster Debut in Common

If we compare Michael Jordan’s NBA debut with Caitlin Clark’s debut, both players showcased immense promise and determination in their respective inaugural appearances at the professional level.

Michael Jordan’s debut took place on October 26, 1984, which saw him rise to the world of professional basketball, especially following his impressive performance at the 1984 Olympics.

In his first regular-season game for the Chicago Bulls against the Washington Bullets, Jordan did not fully suffice in what went on to unfold later as one of the greatest NBA careers.

At the Bullets game, he scored 16 points with six rebounds, and seven assists to the Bulls’ 109-93 victory. Despite the relatively modest statistics in his debut, the game hinted at the remarkable talent and competitive spirit that would define Jordan’s illustrious career.

Facing Orlando Woolridge and Quintin Dailey as the top scorers of the day, Jordan’s skill and presence on the court were already evident, as the Bullets recognized his potential by double-teaming him, a strategy rarely seen for a rookie player.

However, if it is not an over the top statement, we could probably wholeheartedly say that Clark has a spark that would set the whole basketball trend eyeing towards women’s basketball, and for a long time for sure.