Caitlin Clark is back at it. After missing out on the action for 200 days, she returned with a bang in Puerto Rico, and her post-match gesture impressed fans.

CC put on a show as she took apart Senegal's defense, scoring 17 points with four-for-five shooting outside the arc, and 12 assists in just 19 minutes of game time. Team USAB defeated their opponents 110-46 in their first FIBA World Cup qualifier.

"I thought I was going to be anxious, but I was just excited. I've been preparing for this for a really long time. ... There's nothing like getting to run around out there and having fun, especially with a group of people as talented as this. It came to me pretty quick, especially when I got that first 3 to roll around," Clark said after the game.

The Team USAB debut felt extra special, not just because it was Clark's first time playing in the red, white, and blue colours, but also because she had been able to come back from injury after eight months without skipping a beat. The 24-year-old made her presence felt in the first quarter.

"I feel like I had my wind pretty well, I felt like I was playing fast, and that was my goal. I know that's what I'm good at, and what I can bring to this team - the tempo and the pace." Clark added.

The qualifiers came in perfect time for Clark to rebuild momentum ahead of her most important WNBA season yet. Despite being the league's biggest star, she has always respected the national team's seniority and preferred collective achievements over individual honours.

At the same time, having spent over 8 months away from the court was going to be a factor coming into the game. Fortunately, it didn't show in her performance, and even after spending 20 minutes on the court in her first game back, Clark didn't forget her fans.

Fans Praise Caitlin Clark Online Over Staying Late to Sign Autographs

Clark has always valued her fan support. The Fever star was seen signing autographs after the game as her fans online sent her their love.

"She gets it," one user commented, stating how well Clark understands her relationship with her fans. And we've seen this before. In a video posted on the Indiana Fever YouTube channel, Clark was simply signing autographs for 12 minutes straight. Another user replied, "She absolutely does she was born for this."

One user tried to downplay CC and her fans, saying, "All five of them, lol. The stands were empty," but got shut down quickly by a fan, "Well, yes, it’s a qualifying tournament, not the actual World Cup."

While it was indeed a qualifying tournament, the moment was much more important for fans. Clark stayed on the sidelines for most of the year, and that meant watching the Fever struggle. The same fans are able to see that she's gradually making her return to the sport.

That's why one fan added, "CC the best. She knows how important it is and what it means to the fans. One of the reasons she’s my favourite player."

And fans who missed out this time are already looking forward to when Clark visits their city for a game. For instance, when the Fever take on the Toronto Tempo, one fan was excited about getting the autograph and wrote, "Hope to get one in toronto."

Read more at She Got Game!

Written by

Joy Bassy

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar