ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Caitlin Clark, the standout rookie for the Indiana Fever, set a new WNBA record with 19 assists in a game, breaking the previous record held by Courtney Vandersloot of the Chicago Sky since August 31, 2020. Despite Clark’s historic performance, the Fever fell to the Dallas Wings with a final score of 101-93 on Wednesday night, the last game before the league’s month-long break for the Olympics.
Clark’s record-setting moment came late in the game when she assisted Kelsey Mitchell for a three-pointer that tied the game at 93 with 2:22 remaining. However, the game slipped away from the Fever during an 8-0 run by the Wings, capped by a crucial turnover from Clark with 36 seconds left, resulting in a steal by Dallas’s Natasha Howard.
Reflecting on the turnover, Clark remarked, “Yeah, the late turnover. That one kills, for sure. It’s like a fine line of they were up pressuring me so then I kind of got behind them and was able to attack and then I tried to pull it and kind of lost my handle.”
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Clark’s performance was bolstered by her teammate, Aliyah Boston, who scored 28 points on 11-of-14 shooting. Eight of Boston’s baskets were facilitated by Clark’s assists. Boston commented on Clark’s achievement, saying, “She’s going to say it means nothing. But I think it’s pretty cool. So, sorry.”
Clark finished the game with 24 points despite struggling from the three-point range, making only 2 of her 9 attempts. Her selflessness and vision on the court were evident as she aimed to set her teammates up for success, often prioritizing assists over personal scoring opportunities.
“I just try to set my teammates up for success. I think at times I can almost overpass,” Clark said. “There probably could have been a few times where instead of passing that leads to a turnover, I may have, I can probably shoot the ball. Especially with (Boston). I’m just looking to set her up so much. My eyes are almost always on our post players.”
Clark’s achievement places her among the elite, being the first rookie and the ninth player overall in WNBA history to record at least 400 points and 200 assists in a season. She joins an esteemed group that includes Chelsea Gray, Alyssa Thomas, Sue Bird, Jordin Canada, Natasha Cloud, Sabrina Ionescu, Courtney Williams, and Courtney Vandersloot.
Her previous season-high for assists was 13, a mark she had reached four times, most recently in a 95-86 victory over Phoenix last Friday night.
As the Fever head into the Olympic break, Clark’s record-setting performance will undoubtedly be a highlight of their season, offering a glimpse into the bright future of this promising rookie.
