No storm was going to rain on Caitlin Clark’s parade Sunday because the rookie sensation made WNBA historical past with the Indiana Fever beating the Seattle Storm 92-75.
Clark recorded her 226th help in her first skilled season, setting the file for probably the most assists in season by a rookie in league historical past. The earlier file was held by Ticha Penicheiro, who had 225 in 1998. What’s much more spectacular is Penicheiro set the file in 30 video games, whereas Clark broke it in her twenty eighth recreation. With 12 extra video games left within the season, Clark has the chance to place the file in close to untouchable territory. She completed the sport with 9 assists to increase her season complete to 232.
Clark broke the file with a formidable three-fourths of the courtroom move to a Kelsey Mitchell, who completed the help with a layup that bought the gang rocking inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Penicheiro was hyped to see her decades-old file go down.
“Data are supposed to be damaged…it exhibits development and evolution. Can’t consider a greater participant to interrupt it!!” she stated on social media.
“Ticha has been a giant fan of mine ever since I used to be in school, and anyone that has at all times been proper there to congratulate me or simply be anyone that is supplied recommendation,” Clark stated on the ESPN broadcast postgame. “So to move anyone like her, I am simply ceaselessly grateful that she’s been such a legend in our recreation. Nevertheless it’s tremendous cool. Hopefully there’s much more of these.”
It was a sluggish begin for Indiana, with its 13 factors after the primary quarter tying a season-low. The offense picked up within the second quarter, discovering some cracks right into a stout Seattle protection. The Fever ended the primary half on a 12-5 run to take a one-point lead into the intermission, though Clark was 0-for-5 from 3-point land within the first 20 minutes.
Indiana’s offense saved up the tempo out of halftime, however it was on fireplace within the fourth quarter. The Fever have been flattening photographs at will within the remaining body, together with eight 3-pointers in 9 makes an attempt. The Fever outscored the Storm 33-17 within the fourth quarter and the sport was over minutes earlier than the ultimate buzzer went off. A part of the recent fourth quarter was Lexie Hull, who made a career-high six 3-pointers within the contest.
It was the primary win for Clark and the Fever in opposition to Seattle this season; the Storm beat the Fever within the first three conferences this season. The 17-point win is the largest victory of the 12 months for Indiana.
Caitlin Clark stats vs. Storm
Clark completed the sport with 23 factors, 9 assists, 5 rebounds, two blocks, one steal and 5 turnovers. It is her third consecutive recreation with not less than 20 factors. She was 9-for-19 from the sphere and 3-for-10 in 3-pointers, with all of her made photographs exterior the arc coming within the second half.