rookie | caitlin clark (ON HOLD)

02 | great game great day

friday, june 21 indianapolis

The next morning, I woke up with a mix of excitement and nerves. My first day at work had gone smoothly, and today was going to be even more thrilling. I dressed in my best business casual outfit, gave Milo a quick walk, and headed out.

As I walked into the station, Rachel greeted me with a bright smile. "good morning, Julia! Ready for another exciting day?"

"absolutely," I replied, returning her smile.

"great! before you dive into your reporting duties, we have a little surprise for you," she said, leading me down a hallway.

Intrigued, I followed her until we reached a room filled with racks of clothing. "we're doing a fun photo shoot with the station's apparel today. It's a great way to introduce new team members to our audience."

I was a bit taken aback but excited by the idea. "that sounds amazing!"

The photo shoot was a blast. I tried on different outfits, each one carrying the station's cute logo. The photographer was friendly and made the whole experience even more enjoyable. We laughed and joked around, and I felt like I was truly becoming a part of the family.

After the shoot, Rachel handed me a bag with some of the clothes. "consider these a welcome gift. now, let's get you back to the office."

On my way back, I bumped into a woman my height with a pretty smile. She looked up from her phone and smiled. "you must be Julia McCarthy, the new journalist."

"that's me," I replied, extending my hand. "And you are?"

"Sarah Knight, I cover the Indiana Pacers. welcome to Indiana."

We chatted for a bit, and I found out that Sarah had been with the station for a couple years now and knew the city inside and out. "I'm heading to lunch at this little place nearby. want to join me?" she offered.

"i'd love to," I said, grateful for the opportunity to get to know a colleague plus I was pretty hungry.

We walked to a restaurant a few blocks away. It had a cozy atmosphere with wooden tables and a menu full of comfort food. We ordered sandwiches and sat by the window, chatting about our careers the future of sports right now.

Sarah shared stories about her experiences covering the Pacers, and I listened eagerly, soaking in her advice. "you'll love it here," she said. "the city has a great sports culture, and the people are fantastic especially the team your covering."

After lunch, we headed back to the office. I had a few hours to prepare for my big assignment: interviewing the Indiana Fever players and their head coach before the game against the Atlanta Dream. I met up with my cameraman, Jason, who was also new to the station. We quickly hit it off, bonding over our shared excitement and a bit of nervousness about the upcoming game.

When we arrived at the stadium, the energy was palpable. The arena buzzed with anticipation as fans filled the seats. We made our way to the press area, where I had my first look at the court. It was an impressive sight, and I could hardly believe I was here, about to interview some of the top players in the league.

Our first interview was with Caitlin Clark, a rising rookie in women's basketball. She was friendly and down-to-earth, making it easy to get great responses. "Caitlin, you had an incredible game against the Liberty last week, scoring a season-high of 30 points. What was going through your mind during that game?"

"honestly, I was just in the zone," she said, smiling. "my teammates were setting me up with great looks, and I was able to capitalize on them. I see us really coming together as a team right now."

Next up was Aliyah Boston, whose presence was both commanding and approachable. "Aliyah, your defense has been stellar this season. what adjustments have you made to your game to improve on that front?"

"defense is all about anticipation and communication," she replied confidently. "i've been working closely with my coaches to read the game better and position myself effectively. It's paying off, and I'm proud of how our defense has evolved."

NaLyssa Smith and Kelsey Mitchell followed, each bringing their unique perspectives and enthusiasm for the game. "NaLyssa, you've been a key player in transitioning from defense to offense. How do you maintain that energy throughout the game?"

"it's all about conditioning and mental toughness," NaLyssa said. "we train hard, and I focus on staying present in the moment, whether I'm defending or attacking. It's a team effort, and we're all pushing each other to be better."

"Kelsey, as one of the vets on the team, how do you mentor the rookie players and help them integrate into the team dynamic?"

"experience is a great teacher," Kelsey replied. "I try to lead by example and offer advice whenever I can. It's important to create an environment where everyone feels supported and motivated."

Finally, I sat down with head coach Christie Sides. "Coach, the Fever have shown remarkable resilience this season, particularly in close games. What's been the key to maintaining such composure under pressure?"

"preparation and trust," she said. "we prepare meticulously for each game, and the players trust in the system and each other. That trust is crucial when the pressure is on. we believe in what we're building here."

With the interviews wrapped up, Jason and I settled into our seats to watch the game. The Fever played really well, and the crowd's energy was infectious. It was a close game, with both teams showcasing their skills and athleticism.

As the final buzzer sounded, signaling a hard-fought victory for the Fever, I felt a surge of pride. This was just the beginning of our journey in Indianapolis.

Back at my apartment that evening, I collapsed onto the couch, exhausted but exhilarated. Milo jumped up beside me, his tail wagging. "we did it, buddy," I said, scratching his ears. "our first big day, and it was amazing."

I spent the rest of the night writing my first article on today's game to publish the next morning in which I was working on as the game went on. I posted something quick on instagram before closing my article draft. As I drifted off to sleep.

authors note
two chapters one day crazyyyy
anyways short chapter sorry hope you liked it