Caitlin Clark is back in the spotlight, this time catching the attention of none other than Jake Paul! Despite being snubbed for the Team USA roster for the Paris 2024 Olympics, Clark’s stats have set the internet on fire, and rightfully so.
According to a tweet from StatMamba, “Caitlin Clark already has more career assists than 75.4% of all players in WNBA history.” Yes, you read that right. In just 26 games, Clark has out-assisted the majority of the league’s history books. That’s a fact worthy of a double take.
The Iowa native is currently 268th all-time with 213 assists, while the list includes 659 players, ending with those who have at least two assists. Players with one or zero assists didn’t make the cut. This means her numbers are as close to perfect as you can get without needing a microscope.
Jake Paul, always one to chime in on trending topics, responded to the news on Twitter with a simple, “Let that sink in…26 games in. W.” One could almost hear the collective gasps of his followers.
But should we really be surprised? Earlier this year, Clark set the record for the most assists and total points generated in a single match against the Dallas Wings, dropping 19 dimes. Even though her team lost, she left the court with her head held high, and a new record in the bag.
Four-time WNBA All-Star Ticha Penicheiro’s rookie record of 225 assists, set back in 1998, is in serious jeopardy with Clark just 12 assists away. And let’s not forget, she’s also on pace to break the record for total assists in a season. Connecticut Sun’s Alyssa Thomas set that record with 316 assists in 2023, a number Clark is eyeing like a lioness stalking her prey.
In the midst of all this, Dawn Staley, South Carolina head coach and USA Basketball selection committee member, shared her thoughts on Clark’s exclusion from the Olympic team. Staley told NBC’s Mike Tirico, “Caitlin is just a rookie in the WNBA, wasn’t playing bad, but wasn’t playing like she’s playing now.”
Despite a rocky start with the Indiana Fever, Clark has found her stride. She shot just 38% from the field in nine games in May, but July’s six games saw her shooting 43% from the field, though her 3-point shooting remained a bit of a mixed bag at 27%. Her assists, however, skyrocketed to an average of 12.5 per game in July, a dramatic increase from the 7 assists per game she averaged in the season’s first two months.
In a moment of reflective admiration, Staley added, “If we had to do it all over again, the way that she’s playing, she would be in really high consideration of making the team.” Well, hindsight is always 20/20, isn’t it?
As Caitlin Clark continues to dazzle on the court, the 22-year-old’s future looks brighter than a supernova. While she might have missed out on the 2024 Olympics, the 2028 games could very well have her name written all over them.
So, what do you think? Is Caitlin Clark’s rise a fluke, or are we witnessing the birth of a legend? Share your thoughts and stay tuned for more jaw-dropping performances from this rising star.
