“She was the person for me, honestly.” Caitlin Clark has never been shy about her admiration for Maya Moore, making it clear that she grew up as one of her biggest fans. When the Indiana Fever faced off against the Minnesota Lynx just a couple of hours ago, it was a memorable moment for the WNBA rookie as Maya Moore’s iconic No. 23 jersey was retired at the Target Center. What many might have missed is how Caitlin Clark quietly honored Moore’s legacy with her pregame outfit.

Clark made her entrance into the Target Center with her latest pregame, donning an oversized black blazer paired with black jeans, both adorned with eye-catching sparkles. While the outfit was already captivating, the real standout was her choice of jeans- Trish Low Rise Embellished Baggy Jeans. That $795 pants had a ‘Maya Charcoal Black’ shade, subtly paying tribute to her idol, Maya Moore.

Just a few days before the game, Caitlin Clark expressed her emotions about the special night against Lynx as she said, “Obviously, for me as a little kid, it’s a full circle moment for myself. I’m getting to live out my dream of playing in the WNBA, and being in the arena when they’re retiring her jersey.” The WNBA rookie and the retired star have often been compared, thanks to their extraordinary talent on the court and their remarkable influence off it.

Well, Clark’s admiration for Moore and the Lynx dates back to her childhood as her father would drive four hours from Des Moines, Iowa, to Minneapolis just to catch a Lynx game. That’s when Clark first met her idol at a postgame conference. “There’s no documentation of that moment, but obviously, in my brain, that was one of the most pivotal moments probably in my entire basketball career. Obviously, as a young girl, loving sports, that meant the world to me,” stated Clark in an interview.

Later on, she had a surprise meeting with Moore before the NCAA final which turned her screaming as she said, “I feel like I’m fan girling so hard”. All of this proves that it must have been a big moment for the rookie when she took the court against the former legend’s team. Let’s discuss what happened in the game.

Indiana Fever lost against Minnesota Lynx despite Caitlin Clark’s decent performance

While Clark had her ‘full circle moment’ against her idol’s former team, she couldn’t manage to continue the unbeaten streak as the Indiana Fever fell against opponents by 90-80 on Saturday night. Despite the loss, the Fever rookie shone with a solid 23-point performance, her 13th game this season scoring 20 or more. However, it wasn’t enough to match Napheesa Collier’s impressive 31 points.

The Lynx were unstoppable from deep, sinking 11 three-pointers with six of those coming in the first quarter alone. On the contrary, Clark’s Fever had a tough start, missing all seven of their three-point attempts in the opening quarter. The rookie herself struggled, hitting just 1-of-8 shots from the field. The Fever found their groove in the second quarter, but they lost momentum quickly.

Napheesa Collier and Co. regained control in the third quarter, taking charge of the game once more. They eventually won by a 10-point margin which has also secured a playoff berth for the team, while Fever still find themselves in seventh seed with a 13-16 record this season. Though Caitlin Clark’s heartfelt tribute to Maya Moore was a highlight, the Indiana Fever fell short against the Lynx but they will be back in action against Atlanta Dream on Monday.

Stay tuned for more such updates. Join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show.” Our host, BG12, sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.