Let’s be real—if you haven’t heard Caitlin Clark’s name by now, you’re either living under a rock or you have some serious catching up to do. The 22-year-old Indiana Fever rookie seems to have made it her mission to rewrite the WNBA record book with the flair of a Broadway performer. And on Sunday night, she did just that, casually smashing the WNBA’s single-season assist record for a rookie like it was just another item on her to-do list. (Right next to “Become a WNBA legend.”)
Facing the Seattle Storm, Clark dished out her record-breaking 225th assist early in the third quarter. With 12 games still left in the season, Clark has plenty of time to shatter more records—and the confidence of opposing teams. Her assist came in her 28th game, dethroning Ticha Penicheiro, whose record stood strong since 1998, the same year boy bands ruled the world, and many of us were rocking baggy jeans and butterfly clips. (Don’t worry, Ticha—you’re still a legend. But Clark? She’s making history with the swiftness of a TikTok trend.)
Clark’s humble response to breaking the two-decades-old record? Another day, another assist, folks. The Fever rookie has been dominating like she’s been in the league for years. The Iowa standout and first overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft is proving to be as unstoppable as an influencer with a ring light. Averaging 8.3 assists per game, Clark has become the league’s top passer, like an Oprah of basketball: “You get an assist! You get an assist! Everybody gets an assist!”
But breaking records is becoming a routine for Clark. Earlier this season, she became the first rookie to record a triple-double in WNBA history—because, of course, one record just isn’t enough. In that game, she collected 19 points, 13 assists, and 12 rebounds, which, in case you were wondering, is the sports equivalent of juggling flaming swords while riding a unicycle on a tightrope. NBD. And just for fun, she set the single-game assist record with 19 dimes against the Dallas Wings.
Penicheiro might want to look away because Clark isn’t just coming for her rookie record. If she keeps dishing assists like she’s Oprah on Christmas morning, she might just break the overall single-season assist record set by Connecticut’s Alyssa Thomas in 2023 with 316 assists. And when she does, don’t be surprised if she pulls out a selfie stick and documents the whole thing for her fans.
As for the Fever, Clark’s doing more than just breaking records—she’s making her teammates look good. With fellow Fever stars Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston alongside her, the team is turning heads, and not just because they all scored spots on the WNBA All-Star team. (Yeah, they’re kind of a big deal.) Meanwhile, Penicheiro might be on the verge of calling her chiropractor to deal with all the neck craning she’s doing just to keep up with Clark.
With the season’s end still a month away, Clark’s putting the rest of the WNBA on notice: the rookie might be young, but she’s rewriting history one assist at a time. And who knows? By the time the playoffs roll around, the only record left for her to break might be the one for most records broken.
Keep an eye on Caitlin Clark, folks—because she’s not just cooking up assists; she’s serving entire courses of WNBA greatness. And to the rest of the league? Consider this your friendly reminder: you might want to double-check your record books—Clark’s coming for them all.
