Caitlin Clark’s Record-Breaking WNBA Season: The History She Made and the Goals She’s Pursuing
Another game for Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever marked another run-in with history. Clark moved into a tie with Atlanta Dream wing Rhyne Howard for the most 3-pointers made by a rookie in WNBA history (85) on Monday night in Indiana’s 84-79 win over Howard and the Dream.
Clark’s performance — 19 points and seven assists — was just the latest in a recent string of strong performances from the Fever guard, who ranks 11th in the WNBA in scoring (18) and first in assists (8.2) per game since the All-Star break.
Caitlin Clark creates space, steps back and scores her fourth three-pointer of the night.
she has the @WNBA rookie record for 3PM in a season with 85 ⭐️ photo.twitter.com/wNYTOTUFMf
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) August 27, 2024
Of course, she was no stranger to making college history. At Iowa, she set the NCAA Division I scoring record, became the Big Ten’s all-time assist leader and recorded the most 3-pointers in a single season.
As Clark prepares to break Howard’s rookie 3-point record on Wednesday against the Connecticut Sun, here’s a look at the WNBA history she’s already made and what else could be shattered.
What WNBA records has Clark broken?
Assists in one match: Clark set a WNBA single-game record with 19 assists on July 17 against the Dallas Wings.
WNBA RECORD ⭐️
Caitlin Clark has broken the record for most assists in a single game with 19. photo.twitter.com/pKbRUSbwIg
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) July 18, 2024
Rookie triple double: Clark recorded the first triple-double by a rookie in WNBA history on July 6 against the New York Liberty. It was also the first triple-double in Fever history.
Points-Rebounds-Assists: During the first half of the season, Clark became the first rookie in WNBA history to record 400 points, 100 rebounds and 150 assists in a single season.
Staff: On August 18, Clark broke the record for most assists by a rookie, with 247.
There she goes!
With this assist, Caitlin Clark passes Ticha Penicheiro for most assists in a single season by a rookie 🔥 photo.twitter.com/TmuRc4h8yo
— WNBA (@WNBA) August 18, 2024
Assistants in the All-Star Game: Clark made her All-Star Game debut in July and recorded the most assists (10) by a rookie in the exhibition.
Rookie single-game 3-pointers: Clark made seven 3-pointers in Indiana’s win over the Washington Mystics on June 7.
Convert: This one isn’t so great. Clark became the WNBA’s all-time leader in turnovers in a debut game, with 10 in the Fever’s opener against the Connecticut Sun. She also holds the WNBA rookie record for most total turnovers, with 164, and has the most turnovers of any player, regardless of experience level, in WNBA history.
Points assists: Against the Dream, Clark recorded her 21st game with 15 points and 5 assists — the most such games in a single WNBA season.
What other records can she break this season?
Points: Clark may not surpass Cynthia Cooper’s WNBA rookie record for points per game average (22.2), but she is just over 200 points shy of tying the WNBA rookie record for total points (744), set by Seimone Augustus in 2006 — albeit in 34 games.
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Minutes: Clark has played 1,060 minutes this season. If she maintains her current average (35.3), she will overtake teammate Aliyah Boston’s WNBA rookie record for minutes played (1,249) through Indiana’s final five regular-season games.
Point assist double-doubles: Clark’s eight point-assist double-doubles are already the most of any rookie in WNBA history, but she needs just four more to break Courtney Vandersloot’s total of 11 set in 2017.
Free throw percentage: Clark is shooting 89.92 percent from the free-throw line, but she could still surpass Elena Delle Donne’s rookie record of 92.9 by the end of the season.
Total number of assists: Clark has 247 assists this season, just 69 behind Alyssa Thomas, who holds the all-time record with 316. If Clark can maintain her 8.2 assists per game average, she would set that record in one of her final games of the season.
(Photo by Caitlin Clark: Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
