Caitlin Clark struggles against reigning WNBA champions as Fever rookie finishes with just 8 points in loss to Aces

Caitlin Clark struggled against the defending WNBA champions as the Las Vegas Aces secured a 99-80 win over the Indiana Fever on Saturday.

The rookie finished with just eight points but recorded seven assists and five boards as Indiana fell to 1-6 this season.

In 29 minutes of play, Clark shot two-for-five from three-point territory, making two of her eight field goals.

Clark's college coach, Lisa Bluder, was one of many notable names in the building as she squared off with fellow WNBA rookie and former Iowa teammate Kate Martin.

While Clark struggled in the contest, the 18th overall pick had her best game for the champs so far. In her third appearance for Las Vegas, Martin recorded 12 points and seven rebounds in 22 minutes.

Martin did so while shooting 60 percent from the field, 50 percent from three, and making all four tries from the charity stripe.

'It was weird, I'm not gonna lie,' Martin said when asked about playing against Clark. 'Just looking out on the court and seeing her in a jersey that's different than me.'

'It was obviously different, but it's really fun. We're both living out our dream right now and we both get to compete at the highest level. So we're both really grateful for that opportunity.'

While plenty went to witness the rookies clash as pros, the veterans shined even brighter as A'ja Wilson led the Aces with 29 points and 15 rebounds. Meanwhile, Jackie Young and Kelsey Plum scored 22 and 20, respectively, to move Las Vegas to 3-1.

On the other hand, Kelsey Mitchell, Temi Fagbenle, and Aliyah Boston tried with 16, 13, and 12 points in Indiana's losing effort.

Clark and the Fever came into Saturday's game behind their first win of the season against No. 2 pick Cameron Brink and the Sparks in Los Angeles.

Clark made up for a slow start by securing a 78-73 win for Indiana with two clutch three-pointers. Clark clocked in a double-double with 11 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists.

Unfortunately, she did not ride the momentum as the team took the trip to Sin City. At the end of 40 minutes, the Aces' championship experience proved overwhelming for a young Fever team.

Before the meeting, Aces coach Becky Hammon and Wilson slammed the media for creating narratives about the rest of the league feeling animosity toward the rookie.

'I think this narrative of 'everybody hating on Caitlin Clark,' and even the black and white thing - knock it off,' Hammon said during a media scrum on Friday. 'It's not there. So shut down the noise.'

'We love Caitlin Clark,' she emphasized, seemingly annoyed at the assumption of the contrary. 'I think she's amazing. I watch every time I possibly could.'

'Your questions are only annoying because she's young,' Wilson chimed in. 'She's a rookie. You're asking us these questions as if she's a grown a** woman in this league for years.

'No, she's doing her job [and] we're doing ours. At the end of the day, that's how we grow. So yeah, I'm just exhausted over the conversation because I know she's exhausted, I can only imagine.'