Is there anything she cannot do on the basketball court? Caitlin Clark shatters another WNBA record. The Indiana Fever guard broke the league’s single-season assist record for a rookie, previously owned by Ticha Penicheiro.
“If you watch her highlights, she was definitely a better passer than me,” Clark said. “She had way more flair to her game. She would spin around and make these crazy passes. I kind of just run in transition and chuck it up there and hope for the best.”
Clark set the new record in the Fever’s Sunday matinee against the Seattle Storm. Penicheiro set the record 26 years ago in 1998 with the Sacramento Monarchs, dishing out 225 assists. It was a record that stood strong for nearly three decades before Clark was able to set a new bar.
“Super proud of you,” the Portuguese guard said in a video shared on social media congratulating Clark. “I know the work that you put in. A lot of people always talked about your shooting. I was always mesmerized about your passing, your court vision and how you make your teammates better. So, this record is in great hands. And continue to do what you do, continue to elevate your game and the women’s game and the WNBA.”
Embed from Getty ImagesThe WNBA season was ten games shorter during Penicheiro’s rookie campaign, 30 compared to 40 now, according to The Athletic, but it took her all of them to reach the 225 tally. Clark exceeded that mark with 28 games in the season, leaving 12 more contests for her to add to the unbelievable number.
“Records are meant to be broken,” Penicheiro added in the post’s caption. “It shows growth and evolution. Can’t think of a better player to break it!!”
The new record was set in the third quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis with Indiana Pacers stars Tyrese Haliburton and Obi Toppin in the stands taking it all in, when Clark recorded her third assist of the game.
As stated previously, there is still one month and 12 games remaining in the 2024 season. That likely means that Clark will obliterate the rookie record.
It is another major honor for Clark, who became the first rookie in WNBA history to record a triple-double. She accomplished that feat on July 6 against Breanna Stewart and the New York Liberty, scoring 19 points, dishing out 13 assists and collecting 12 rebounds in a win.
Clark also set the WNBA’s single-game assist record earlier this season. In a July 19 showdown against the Dallas Wings, which was the last game before the 2024 Olympic break, the Fever rookie dished out 19 dimes.
Going into Sunday’s game against Seattle, Clark was the league’s leader in assists. She is averaging 8.3 assists per game, to go along with 17.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals per contest. She is doing a little bit of everything.
In setting a new WNBA rookie record, Clark eclipsed an incredibly talented and unselfish player. During her 15-year career in the league, Penicheiro was the league’s assist leader in seven seasons and was a four-time WNBA All-Star. She also won a league championship with the Monarchs in 2005.
Clark and the Fever got off to a shaky start to begin the 2024 WNBA season, but they are starting to gel together. Indiana is hoping to make a strong playoff push in the second half of the season.
Alongside Chicago Sky Forward Angel Reese, Clark will be featured in the next NBA 2K video game edition, releasing September 6.
