Caitlin Clark’s impressive rookie season has added another milestone to WNBA history.
On Friday, the Indiana Fever guard broke the league record for single-season assists, reaching her 317th assist during a game against the Las Vegas Aces. Clark surpassed the previous record of 316 assists set by Alyssa Thomas of the Connecticut Sun last season. The record-breaking assist came when Clark set up Kelsey Mitchell on an inbounds play.
In the same game, Clark came close to achieving her third career triple-double, finishing with 18 points on 7-of-18 shooting, 10 assists, eight rebounds, and six turnovers. Despite her efforts, the Fever fell short in a 78-74 loss to the Aces.
Clark previously set the WNBA single-game assist record with 19 assists in a game against the Dallas Wings on July 17. After a slow start to the season, Clark has proven to be the transformative player many anticipated, having transitioned from college basketball to the WNBA within 37 days.
Clark’s achievements extend beyond assists. She is also nearing the WNBA single-season record for 3-pointers, ending Friday’s game with 114, just 14 behind Sabrina Ionescu’s record of 128 with two games remaining. Clark has set numerous rookie records over her 38 games, showcasing a unique blend of shooting and playmaking.
However, Clark has also set the record for the most turnovers in a season, accumulating 209 as of Friday. The previous record was held by Thomas with 137 turnovers last year. Despite this, the Fever have managed to secure their first playoff berth since 2016, ending the longest playoff drought in WNBA history.
Clark is the leading candidate for WNBA Rookie of the Year, though she faces competition from Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky, who set records for single-season rebounds and longest double-double streak before her season-ending wrist injury. Aces star A’ja Wilson is on track to surpass Reese’s rebound record, currently holding 435 boards with three games remaining in the season. Wilson recorded 17 rebounds against the Fever on Friday, while Chelsea Gray led all scorers with 21 points.
