INDIANAPOLIS — Caitlin Clark and the up-and-coming Indiana Fever were no match for the New York Liberty and reigning MVP Breanna Stewart on Thursday. 

The Liberty routed the Fever 102-66 in Gainbridge Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis, spoiling Clark’s first regular-season at home. Scoring was hard to come by for Clark, who finished with nine points (2-8 FG, 1-7 3PT, 4-4 FT), seven rebounds and 6 assists on the night. The No. 1 pick in April’s draft found herself in foul trouble early, and racked up five fouls and three turnovers.

“We knew this atmosphere was going to be wild and … we have that experience,” Stewart said postgame, adding that the Liberty “made it really difficult for (Clark) tonight. We had an awareness of where she was and we followed the game plan.”

Stewart recorded a double-double — 31 points, 10 rebounds and four assists — and Sabrina Ionescu added 14 points and seven rebounds. Fever’s Aliyah Boston had a team-high 12 points, 7 rebounds and two assists.

Here’s a recap of the Fever’s home opener against the Liberty:

Why Caitlin Clark’s slow start isn’t surprising

Caitlin Clark has not come in and instantly dominated the WNBA. That’s not surprising. This league is too talented, Lindsay Schnell writes.

Sabrina Ionescu has a fan in Caitlin Clark

INDIANAPOLIS — Sabrina Ionescu knows a thing or two about pressure Caitlin Clark is feeling these days.

The No. 1 pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft, Ionescu also had record-setting college career and came into the league with a lot of fanfare. That hype was put on hold just two games into the 2020 season, when Ionescu badly sprained her left ankle and missed the rest of the season. When she came back in 2021, despite not being 100%, she recalls navigating “being the No. 1 pick, having the target on your back and then also not being (totally) healthy. It’s just tough.”

Clark and Ionescu go ‘way back,’ Ionescu said. She hosted Clark and her dad, Brent, on Clark’s official visit to Oregon and Clark purchased the Pac-12 Network to keep up with Ionescu’s play with the Ducks. Clark also praised the comfort of Ionescu’s signature sneaker, which she wears sometimes (both are Nike athletes). 

Ionescu empathizes with what Clark, perhaps the most heralded rookie to ever come into the league, is dealing with. And even if Clark has struggled a bit compared to college — she scored nine points in the 102-66 blowout loss to New York Thursday, shooting just 2-of-8 — Ionescu has tons of confidence in her.

“You’re always going to fight adversity, I think that’s part of everyone’s journey, to weather that storm and figure out what makes you, you,” Ionescu said. “She’s so young, she’s going to be able to learn and grow and times like this are kind of when you figure out what you’re really made of … I’m not the least big worried about what’s she’s going to be able accomplish in the league.” – Lindsay Schnell 

Final: Liberty 102, Fever 66

The Fever was dominated wire-to-wire by the Liberty, but the fourth quarter was extra ugly. New York outscored Indiana 35-10 in the fourth quarter of the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Thursday. The final dagger of the night came when New York’s Ivana Dojkic knocked down a 27-foot three pointer with 11.1 seconds remaining in the game to go up 36 over the Fever. – Cydney Henderson

3Q: Liberty 67, Fever 56

INDIANAPOLIS — As we’ve seen so many times, a few buckets from Caitlin Clark, and her team is right back in this.

Clark scored seven points in the third quarter, helping pull the Fever within 13, 67-56. But Indiana didn’t get a shot off in time as the quarter ended, and the Fever continue to have no answer for Breanna Stewart, who leads all scorers with 28 points. (She also has nine rebounds.)

New York built as much as a 23-point lead in the third, but Indiana seems to have a little fire. Clark hit her first 3, which is huge for her confidence. Can she got on a little bit of a scoring run and include some of her signatures logo 3s in said run? – Lindsay Schnell 

Caitlin Clark in foul trouble

Caitlin Clark picked up another quick foul. The Fever rookie was called for a shooting foul against New York’s Breanna Stewart just 30-seconds into the third quarter with 9:31 remaining. Stewart converted both of her free throws to extend the Liberty’s lead to 50-33. Clark now has four fouls, but she remained on the court.

– Cydney Henderson

Halftime: Liberty 48, Fever 31

INDIANAPOLIS — In what should have been a battle of the bigs, Jonquel Jones vs. Aliyah Boston, it hasn’t exactly been a fair fight. Jones has owned the paint. She’s only scored six points, but she already has seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Boston, meanwhile, has eight points, but has mostly been a non-factor inside.

That’s a big part of why the Liberty have a 48-31 halftime lead.

A run midway through the second quarter helped Indiana cut the lead to four, and the Liberty responded by turning the ball over. But the Fever couldn’t capitalize on the other end, and the Liberty have been in full control of this game since.

And there’s more bad news for Indiana: Just before halftime, Caitlin Clark picked up her third foul.

Breanna Stewart leads all scorers with 20 points for New York. – Lindsay Schnell 

1Q: Liberty 25, Fever 16

INDIANAPOLIS — She’s only got two points, but already, Caitlin Clark’s home debut is going better than her league debut did two days ago.

Clark has three assists — two of them to Katie Lou Samuelson for 3s — and three rebounds, and looks considerably more comfortable through one quarter. Perhaps best of all, she only has one foul.

But it’s not going great for the Fever overall. New York has a 25-16 lead behind 11 points from Breanna Stewart, the reigning MVP. The Liberty are owning the battle in the paint, outscoring Indiana 16-8, and they’ve already forced the Fever into four turnovers (three of them by Clark). Also for the Liberty, Sabrina Ionescu already has nine points, three rebounds and an assist. – Lindsay Schnell 

Aliyah Boston, Jonquel Jones have dustup

INDIANAPOLIS — Less than seven minutes into the game, and it’s already getting chippy. 

As Indiana Aliyah Boston got fouled by New York’s Jonquel Jones, the two got tangled up and words — of the ‘not suitable for work’ variety — were exchanged. But a common foul was called, so no harm done, right? 

We’ll have to keep an eye on this matchup the rest of the game. – Lindsay Schnell 

What time is New York Liberty at Indiana Fever?  

Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever will play in front of their home fans for the first time this season when they face the New York Liberty on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET. The game is at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

How to watch Caitlin Clark tonight

The Liberty at Fever game will be televised on Amazon Prime.

How to stream New York Liberty at Indiana Fever 

The Liberty at Fever game will be available for streaming on Amazon Prime. The game also will be available on demand on the WNBA’s League Pass upon its conclusion. Fans can get League Pass by downloading the WNBA app.

Indiana Fever starting lineup

PG Erica Wheeler 
SG Caitlin Clark 
SF Katie Lou Samuelson 
PF NaLyssa Smith 
C Aliyah Boston 

New York Liberty starting lineup  

G Courtney Vandersloot
G Sabrina Ionescu
G/F Betnijah Laney-Hamilton
F Breanna Stewart
C Jonquel Jones

How many points did Caitlin Clark score last?

Clark finished with 20 points in her WNBA debut on Tuesday, but it took the rookie some time to get going. She shot just 5-of-15 from the field in the Fever’s 92-71 loss to the Connecticut Sun. The top pick in the 2024 draft also threw the ball away 10 times, a stat that’s sure to nag at her — and definitely not the type of double-double she wanted to record.

2024 WNBA rookies to watch  

 The 2024 WNBA rookie class is one of the most anticipated in history, led by none other than Caitlin Clark, the scoring phenom from Iowa who re-wrote the college record books.  But she’s not the only newcomer expected to make a big impact, and do so immediately. There hasn’t been this sort of attention and excitement around WNBA rookies since 2013, when Brittney Griner, Elena Della Donne and Skylar Diggins-Smith joined the league.   

To get you ready for the 2024 WNBA season that tips Tuesday, USA TODAY Sports’ Lindsay Schnell gives a primer on the nine rookies she thinks will have the biggest impact this season.  Read more from Schnell here.  

Even babies are gaga over Caitlin Clark

Caitlin Clark is inspiring girls all over the world, including one tiny tot. Ahead of her first home game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse vs. the New York Liberty on Thursday, Clark was spotted on the court playing with Aliya, the daughter of Fever forward Katie Lou Samuelson. 

Clark was also spotted signing autographs pregame. – Cydney Henderson

WNBA says all teams will charter by Tuesday 

INDIANAPOLIS — A WNBA spokesperson confirmed Thursday that starting Tuesday, May 21, all teams will charter to and from each game. That’s just one week after the 2024 season opened.

A celebratory fever swept through the league last week when commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced teams would begin chartering full-time — particularly from veterans who have been fighting to fly private for years.

Read the complete story here. 

Caitlin Clark wants to be like Steph Curry  

INDIANAPOLIS — The summer before her senior year at Iowa, Caitlin Clark made a point to bulk up, adding eight pounds of muscle to her thin, 6-foot frame. She knew the added weight would make a difference as the Hawkeyes slogged through another long season and she fought off multiple defenders each night on her way to leading the nation in scoring.  

But this summer she’s busy playing in the WNBA. That means any major changes to her body will have to wait a few months. When she does get in the weight room, Clark has a goal: Be like NBA superstar Stephen Curry.  

“Somebody I love to watch is Steph,” she said. “He’s strong. He might be a little small but he’s a really strong guy. That’ll definitely be something that’s important for me to evolve over the course of my pro career.”   

The physicality of the WNBA has been a major adjustment for Clark through just three games (two preseason and one regular season). She’s been bumped and bodied every second she’s on the floor, whether she has the ball or not, and is still getting used to that.  

Clark is officially listed at 152 pounds, one of the Fever’s smallest players; only 5-foot-7 Erica Wheeler weighs less, at 143 pounds. Adding another seven to 10 pounds of muscle would go a long way for Clark; the guards who have similar builds to her, 6-foot Grace Berger and 6-foot-1 Lexie Hull, check in at 160 and 155 pounds, respectively.  Clark knows getting stronger is a key to longevity in the pros but has accepted she’ll have to wait a few months to really attack that aspect of her game: “When this offseason comes, that will probably be one of my primary focuses, gaining more strength.” – Lindsay Schnell 

Caitlin Clark wild about the Indiana Zoo

INDIANAPOLIS — Caitlin Clark hasn’t been in Indianapolis long but already, she’s got a to-do list involving Circle City. 

Of course her top priorities are basketball-related. Clark, the No. 1 pick in April’s draft, wants to lift the Indiana Fever into the WNBA playoffs, and wouldn’t mind collecting some individual accolades along the way. She’s been open about her desire to be put on the 2024 Olympic team. 

On Thursday before she made her regular-season home debut, Clark told reporters that she’s excited, at some point, to visit the Indianapolis Zoo. 

Considered one of the top zoos in America, the Indianapolis Zoo annually holds a black-tie fundraiser known as “Zoobilation,” billed as the city’s “most anticipated event of the year.” And Indy’s newest resident is angling for an invite: “Maybe I’ll hit up Zoobilation, I heard they’re getting new chimpanzees.’. 

Told that her praise of the event is likely to lead to her being the guest of honor, Clark laughed before joking “yeah, Zoobilation is about to have an all-time high of people wanting to go,” a reference to how her presence tends to help set attendance records. 

Something else likely to set attendance records: Her play this summer at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the home of the Fever. – Lindsay Schnell 

Another WNBA team moves Indiana Fever game to bigger arena

Where Caitlin Clark goes, crowds follow. The Atlanta Dream joined the Washington Mystics and Las Vegas Aces in moving their upcoming games against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever to bigger arenas to accommodate a larger crowd.

Clark, the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer and the Fever’s No. 1 overall draft pick, said she understands the significance of the hype surrounding her and vowed to continue to show up for fans across the league.

‘People are sacrificing a lot to spend money to get here or travel or to pay for their young daughter or son to come and watch us and support us… I understand it because I was that young girl,’ Clark said on Thursday. ‘I’m very aware of it and that’s why I didn’t miss a single game in college.’  – Cydney Henderson

10 bold predictions for WNBA season  

The 28th WNBA season tips off tonight, so it’s time to start thinking about what’s in store for women’s professional basketball the next few months.    

There’s never been more excitement around the women’s game. With a star-studded draft class, a team going for its third consecutive championship and a Summer Olympics that will help drum up interest in women’s basketball, the WNBA is headed into its most-anticipated season since the league debuted almost three decades ago.    

So what can we expect this summer? For starters, Caitlin Clark will lead the WNBA in assists and make the Olympic team. Read Lindsay Schnell’s story here. 

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It’s no surprise World Cup champion Lionel Messi is the highest-paid player in Major League Soccer.

But here are two staggering disparities between Messi and the rest of the league:

Messi, the Inter Miami star, earns more than the entire payrolls for 25 of 29 teams, and $19.8 million more than the league average.

Messi has a base salary of $12 million, but Inter Miami will pay him $20.4 million in guaranteed compensation — $20,446,667 to be exact — for the 2024 MLS season, according to salary data released by the league’s player association on Thursday.

Messi’s reported pay is a portion of a reported $150 million deal he agreed to last summer, which included an ownership stake in Inter Miami when he retires. He also receives separate compensation from partners such as Apple and Adidas.

Inter Miami has two of the top three highest-paid players in MLS: Midfielder Sergio Busquets — one of the team’s four former FC Barcelona standouts — earns $8,774,996 this season. The other two: Luis Suárez, tied for the MLS lead with 11 goals, and Jordi Alba both will make $1.5 million this season.

Inter Miami’s $41.7 million payroll, including base salary and bonuses, is the highest in MLS. Toronto FC ($31.4 million), Chicago Fire ($25.1 million) and Nashville SC ($21.4 million) round out the top four payrolls that exceed Messi’s salary.

Messi earns $5 million more than the second highest-paid player, Toronto FC’s Lorenzo Insigne, an Italian standout who won the 2020 UEFA European football championship. They’re the only two MLS players earning more than $9 million this season.

Seven MLS players make at least $3 million, four players make at least $4 million, two players earn at least $5 million, and three players earn at least $6 million. Busquets is one of two players (Swiss star Xherdan Shaqiri of Chicago Fire FC) to make at least $8 million this season.

The average guaranteed compensation for MLS players in 2024 is $594,390.

Here are the top 10 MLS player salaries in 2024:

1. Lionel Messi (Inter Miami): $20.4 million ($12.0 million base salary)

2. Lorenzo Insigne (Toronto FC): $15.4 million ($7.5 million)

3. Sergio Busquets (Inter Miami): $8.8 million ($8.5 million)

4. Xherdan Shaqiri (Chicago Fire): $8.2 million ($7.4 million)

5. Sebastián Driussi (Austin FC): $6.7 million ($4.5 million)

6. Federico Bernardeschi (Toronto FC): $6.3 million ($3.1 million)

7. Emil Forsberg (New York Red Bulls): $6.0 million ($5.4 million)

8. Héctor Herrera (Houston Dynamo): $5.2 million ($4.8 million)

9. Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC): $5.2 million ($3.8 million)

10. Carles Gil (New England Revolution): $4.5 million ($4.0 million)

Here are the MLS team payrolls in 2024:

1. Inter Miami: $41.7 million ($30.9 million in base salary)

2. Toronto FC: $31.4 million ($19.1 million)

3. Chicago Fire: $25.1 million ($23.1 million)

4. Nashville SC: $21.4 million ($18.5 million)

5. FC Cincinnati: $18.7 million ($15.9 million)

6. Austin FC: $18.4 million ($15.1 million)

7. New England Revolution: $18.3 million ($17.1 million)

8. Los Angeles Galaxy: $17.9 million ($16.1 million)

9. New York Red Bulls: $17.1 million ($15.2 million)

10. Houston Dynamo: $16.8 million ($15.1 million)

11. Atlanta United: $16.7 million ($14.3 million)

12. Seattle Sounders: $16.6 million ($15.0 million)

13. New York City FC: $16.5 million ($14.6 million)

14. Colorado Rapids: $16.3 million ($14.7 million)

15. FC Dallas: $16.2 million ($14.4 million)

16. DC United: $16.2 million ($15.0 million)

17. LAFC: $15.9 million ($14.7 million)

18. Sporting Kansas City: $15.9 million ($15.5 million)

19. Portland Timbers: $15.4 million ($13.0 million)

20. Vancouver Whitecaps: $15.2 million ($14.2 million)

21. Columbus Crew: $15.2 million ($13.4 million)

22. Orlando City: $15.1 million ($12.4 million)

23. Minnesota United: $14.9 million ($13.1 million)

24. Philadelphia Union: $14.8 million ($13.1 million)

25. Charlotte FC: $14.5 million ($13.4 million)

26. San Jose Earthquakes: $13.6 million ($12.5 million)

27. Real Salt Lake: $13.6 million ($12.4 million)

28. CF Montreal: $12.0 million ($10.8 million)

29. St. Louis City: $12.0 million ($10.8 million)

PHOENIX — Cincinnati Reds GM Nick Krall, standing in the front of the visiting dugout at Chase Field while talking to a reporter, looked toward 22-year-old shortstop Elly De La Cruz and suddenly gasped. 

“Oh, my God, did you see that??’ Krall blurted out.

“Did you see what he just did?’

Cruz, on a dare by teammate Jonathan India, picked up a baseball standing on the right-field line, and heaved it clear across the outfield, above the lower level of seats, up and over the electronic advertising board, onto the stadium concourse. 

Estimated distance: 430 feet, perhaps even 440 feet. 

Follow every MLB game: Latest MLB scores, stats, schedules and standings.

“I was messing with him,’ India told USA TODAY Sports. “I said, ‘There’s no way you can do it, dude.’ 

“He was like, “Oh, really?’ 

“So he just fires the ball halfway up the stands. He didn’t even crow-hop it. I mean, I knew he could do it, but I just wanted to see it myself. It was incredible.’

The rest of the Reds players stood on the field laughing, knowing that they are watching the modern-day version of Bo Jackson without the Heisman Trophy. 

While he is often compared to Fernando Tatis Jr. with his sheer athleticism and lanky body, De La Cruz’s awe factor is strikingly similar to Jackson’s. 

There is not a player in baseball who has the combination of speed, power and arm strength of De La Cruz.

“It’s just unbelievable the stuff he can do, man,’ Reds reliever Emilio Pagan said. “He’s just so creative. I played with Tatis. There’s definitely a lot of similarities. 

“They should have a little bit of a baseball combine. It’d be cool to see them match up.’

Said Reds pitcher Nick Martinez: “The guy is a freak of nature. You watch him play, and you forget he’s just 22 years old. You watch him, and almost every day he’s making some insane catches, he runs like a deer, and then you see the pop in his bat, and you say, ‘Holy crap!’

“You see him do crazy stuff all the time.’

No wonder De La Cruz is besieged by not only fans, but opposing players seeking autographs. He was heading for the weight room this week in Phoenix when he was stopped to sign baseballs for several Arizona Diamondbacks players. 

It should be no different Thursday when the Reds visit Dodger Stadium for a four-game series, letting everyone know there’s another player in town besides Shohei Ohtani who might be rewriting the record books. 

De La Cruz, with nine home runs and a major-league leading 26 stolen bases, is one only of five players in history to have nine or more homers and 25 stolen bases in any 40-game stretch. 

The dude has more stolen bases than half of the teams in baseball. 

He’s currently on pace to push 35 homers and 100 stolen bases. There hasn’t been a player who has stolen 100 bases in nearly a half-century, dating back to Vince Coleman of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1987. 

“I never got to see Bo Jackson play,’ Reds veteran pitcher Brent Suter said, “but I’ve never seen anything like it. You watch him take BP, and he’s hitting balls out of the stadium. You watch him run, and his speed is out of this world, playing faster than even its reading. His in-game is better than even the measurables.’

‘Breaking’ Statcast

Sometimes, well, even the computers at Statcast can get caught up in the hyperbole. 

He made a throw two weeks ago in San Diego that was measured at 106.9 mph, too quick for first baseman Jeimer Candelario to even get his glove up to catch it.

“All I know,’ Candelario said, “is that it was coming hard. He’s got a good arm, man. Just different.’

It would have been the hardest recorded throw in the Statcast era, but it was later announced there had been a glitch.

“But he threw it so hard, we kind of believed that 106.9 mph reading for awhile,’’ Suter said. “Oh, my gosh, it was so hard. It was one of the hardest throws ever from a shortstop, so we believed that reading. …

“He’s a freak of nature.’

De La Cruz, 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds, just laughs.

“I just enjoy baseball so much,’ he says. “I want to get better every day. And I want to better than anyone else doing it. I want to be the best.’

De La Cruz isn’t saying this to be boastful. He’s not trying to brag. He’s just letting you know what he’s feeling. 

Everything he does is 100% genuine. 

“He wants to be great,’ Suter said. “He wants to win. And he wants to do everything he can to help this team win a World Series … Everything is real.’ 

When the Reds players stroll in for a 7:10 p.m. home game at Great American Ball Park, they’ll find De La Cruz, already drenched in sweat, having arrived at noon to be the first in the weight room. 

When India sits down and discusses the night’s opposing pitcher, De La Cruz has already studied the video and pored over the scouting reports, knowing what the pitcher’s arsenal, his release time, and his pick-off moves. 

“The mental part of his game is something else,’ India says. “It’s pretty cool to watch.’’ 

When the coaching staff starts discussing defensive alignments before the start of a series, De La Cruz is fully attentive, knowing exactly where he should be shaded for each opposing hitter. 

“Honestly, my favorite thing about him is his work ethic,’’ Pagan said. “His talent is off the charts, but so is his work ethic. To see somebody who’s so talented, and so young, and who has the makeup who you can tell genuinely wants to be great, that just jumps out at me. 

“He’s got an attitude about him that he’s not satisfied with what he can do naturally, and just wants to get better at all aspects of the game. He’s the first one in the weight room. He’s constantly studying film on hitters. And he’s always working on his defense. 

“The makeup, the work ethic, to go along with the natural ability, is just off the charts.’’ 

De La Cruz, who took the league by storm last year after making his major-league debut on June 6, badly struggled to even stay in the big leagues the second half of the season. He hit just .181 with a .272 on-base percentage and .355 slugging percentage, striking out 105 times in just 262 at-bats. 

He did everything possible to make sure it would never happen again, and is hitting .258 with an .857 OPS this season, drawing 21 walks, just 14 fewer than in 98 games last season. 

“He worked hard last year,’ Reds outfielder Will Benson said, “but the difference is how much more detailed and structured his work is. He’s working harder than just about anybody. And when he gets on base, man, I’ve never seen speed like that before in my life.’

Said Diamondbacks catcher Tucker Barnhart: “You got to be so careful with him. He gets a hit, he turns it into a double. He gets a walk, and the next thing you know he’s standing on third base.’’ 

De La Cruz still is striking out often, 55 times in 155 at-bats, but he also has 21 walks, just 14 fewer than he had all of last season. 

“He’s done a really good job learning from what he struggled with last year,’ Reds outfielder Spencer Steer said. “Now, you’re seeing him really taking mature at-bats. 

“He’s just a guy who wants to win. He wants to be a great player. And with that kind of talent, and that kind of mindset, it’s a pretty dangerous combination.’’ 

Really, the Reds will tell you, they’re just as impressed with De La Cruz the person as the ballplayer. They’ll talk about the respect he shows the coaches and veteran players. They’ll rave about his modesty. And if that time ever comes where he becomes the first 40-100 man in baseball history, well, they’re not convinced he’d even take pride in the achievement unless it helped the Reds earn a playoff berth. 

This is a young man from the Dominican Republic who idolized Yankees Hall of Famer Derek Jeter (“I loved that guy’), not only how he played the game, but what he represented off the field. He wants to play every single game.

When he wasn’t in the starting lineup Wednesday for the first time this season, he took the news as if Reds manager David Bell demoted him to the minors (“He’s the boss, what can I say?’). He still kept his streak alive when he entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the eighth, and after a 2-1 loss to the D-backs, was the first in the weight room. 

Learning a new language

“I thought if I learned English it would make it easier for everyone,’ De La Cruz said. “That’s what you guys speak in this country, English. So, I want to understand my teammates and coaches. If I don’t speak English, how can I understand them?’

The desire to learn a new language instead of letting everyone adjust to him, the Reds say, shows his desire of being the consummate teammate, as well.

“For him to take the time to really learn English so he can talk with us, talk with the coaches, and the fans,’ Steer said, “that’s pretty incredible. He didn’t have to do that, but he’s such a humble, down-to-earth guy. You could tell how important it was for him to learn English.’

The Reds, 18-25, know their future is Elly De La Cruz. They’re a young, athletic team that’s struggling this season, losing 15 of their last 19 games. They’re convinced one day they’ll be back in the postseason, winning their division for the first time since 2012. 

And it will be De La Cruz leading the way. 

“What impresses me the most about Elly is who Elly is as a person,’ Bell said. “He’s had a lot of success really fast, but he’s the same humble, respectful, intelligent person. For a young player who’s not in his native country, who’s not speaking his native language, and to be this centered is really impressive. 

“He’s really the complete package, and I don’t ever see that changing. 

“Believe me, his career is going to be pretty fun to watch.’’  

Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale 

INDIANAPOLIS — Well, it went better than the first game. 

Caitlin Clark scored nine points, grabbed seven rebounds and handed out six assists Thursday night as the Indiana Fever got blown out by the New York Liberty, losing 102-66. It was the Fever’s home opener, and more than 17,000 fans, many of them in Clark gear, showed up to cheer on the city’s newest, and most famous, resident. 

Clark, the top pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, had another frustrating shooting night, connecting on just 2-of-8 attempts, including 1-of-7 from 3. She was hounded all game by Liberty guard Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, who turned in an impressive performance on both ends of the floor (Laney-Hamilton was a team-best +43, a stunning plus-minus; she also scored 12 points in the win). 

Clark looked more comfortable, though, and had an important offensive burst late in the third quarter. She scored seven points in 81 seconds to help pull the Fever within 13, 67-54, late in the third quarter. But she didn’t score again after that, and her frustration with her play was visible. 

Still, it was an improvement from her official WNBA debut Tuesday night, when she scored 20 points but also turned the ball over 10 times. 

“It’s a process and she’s going to be fine,” Fever coach Christie Sides said after the game. “She’s figuring it out. She just needs to get a little bit of confidence. Right now I think she’s taking some shots that she would normally knock down but Betnijah is one of the best defenders in the league and she was making it really hard on her. We’ve got to do a better job of finding ways to get her some easier, more open looks.’

The Fever play the Liberty again Saturday in New York. 

The NFL has formally distanced itself from controversial comments Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker made over the weekend during a commencement speech at Benedictine College.

‘Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity,’ senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer Jonathan Beane said Wednesday night. ‘His views are not those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger.’

Butker, 28, has played seven seasons in the NFL, all with the Chiefs. During the 20-minute speech, he expressed sexist and anti-LGBTQIA+ opinions, alluding to ‘dangerous gender ideologies’ centered around Pride Month, the celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender pride.

‘Not the deadly sins sort of Pride that has an entire month dedicated to it,’ Butker said Saturday, ‘but the true God-centered pride that is cooperating with the holy ghost to glorify him.’

Butker also expressed his belief that women should prioritize their ‘vocation’ as mothers, wives and homemakers.

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‘I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolic lies told to you,’ Butker said during the speech. ‘Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.’

He also criticized, though not by name, President Joe Biden for his stance on abortion and criticized the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed nearly 1.2 million people in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

‘While COVID might have played a large role throughout your formative years, it is not unique,’ Butker said. ‘The bad policies and poor leadership have negatively impacted major life issues. Things like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, as well as a growing support for the degenerate cultural values and media all stem from pervasiveness of disorder.’

Benedictine College is a Catholic private liberal arts school in Atchison, Kansas, which is about 50 miles northwest from Kansas City, Missouri, where the Chiefs are headquartered.

Butker is a three-time Super Bowl champion with the Chiefs and holds records for the longest field goal in a Super Bowl (57 yards) and career field goals in the Super Bowl (nine).