Indiana Fever鈥檚 Caitlin Clark breaks WNBA single-season assists record
Caitlin Clark added another milestone to her historic rookie campaign, breaking the WNBA single-season assists record in the Indiana Fever鈥檚 78-74 loss to the Las Vegas Aces on Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
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Clark entered the game needing just four assists to match the previous record of 316 set by Connecticut Sun guard Alyssa Thomas in 2023. She in the second quarter on an inbounds pass to teammate Kelsey Mitchell, who drove to the paint and knocked down the bucket.
Clark finished the game with 18 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, while Mitchell led Indiana with 20 points in the loss.
The accomplishment adds to the 2024 No. 1 pick鈥檚 historic season, which includes setting the WNBA鈥檚 single-game assist record with 19 against the Dallas Wings in July and the rookie assists record last month. Clark has also become the first rookie to record a triple-double and holds the most 3-pointers made by a rookie in league history.
Indiana trailed 43-35 at halftime before Clark caught fire in the third quarter, scoring 14 points and bringing the Fever to within three points. After Damiris Dantas made a 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 60-60, the Aces broke out on a 9-2 run to pad their lead.
The Fever had an opportunity to tie the game with under 20 seconds left in the game, but Fever star Aliyah Boston missed the 3-point attempt. Aces guard Chelsea Gray made a pair of free throws on the ensuing possession to put the game out of reach.
Aces star A鈥檍a Wilson, fresh off of setting the WNBA鈥檚 single-season scoring record Wednesday, finished with 15 points and 17 rebounds in the victory, while Gray added 21 points and six assists.
After the game, Clark was asked about her record-setting night, as well as Wilson鈥檚 and Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese鈥檚 milestones this season.
鈥淚 think it definitely just speaks to the whole entire year and how historic it has been for this league and how great the basketball has been for the league,鈥� Clark said.
鈥淵ou know we鈥檙e not even to the playoffs yet; I think that鈥檚 what is so fun about it is you鈥檙e just going to continue to see records be taken down, but also, I think, really good basketball, and that鈥檚 why it's been so fun to watch, that鈥檚 why the fans have been showing up, the viewership has been absolutely crushed this year,鈥� she added.
鈥淚 think everybody is just kind of raising their game, the competition is just getting better and better, and it鈥檚 fun as a competitor to show up in this league every night and know you have to bring your best because you know whoever is on the other side of the court from you, they鈥檙e going to bring their best and that鈥檚 what makes it fun,鈥� Clark said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been cool to watch everybody really take a step up and elevate, and to be a part of that has been really fun for myself, too.鈥�
Though the Fever fell short to the Aces for a second straight game, they remain in sixth place in the standings and have already secured a spot in the playoffs. Indiana will face Dallas on Sunday before wrapping up the regular season against the Washington Mystics on Sept. 19.