In a nail-biting encounter on Saturday, Caitlin Clark etched her name in the annals of WNBA history as she became the first rookie to notch a triple-double. The Indiana Fever’s sensational 83-78 comeback victory over the New York Liberty was punctuated by Clark’s 19 points, 13 assists, and 12 rebounds, igniting the home crowd and setting a new benchmark for rookie performance.
The game commenced with Indiana exerting dominance, but the resilient Liberty clawed back, overturning the deficit to lead by 11 points early in the final quarter. The Fever, however, were far from finished. Fueled by Clark’s extraordinary effort, they mounted a fierce comeback, outscoring New York 28-16 in a pulsating final frame to seal the win.
Clark’s remarkable achievement didn’t just stop at becoming the first rookie to achieve a triple-double; she also became the first Indiana Fever player to do so. Her tenacity on the court was evident as she grabbed her 10th rebound in the decisive fourth quarter, completing her historic stat line.
Sabrina Ionescu spearheaded the Liberty’s offense with 22 points, while Betnijah Laney-Hamilton matched her career-high with 20 points. However, the Fever’s balanced attack, with four starters in double figures, proved too much for the Liberty. Aliyah Boston added 18 points, Kelsey Mitchell contributed 14, and NaLyssa Smith chipped in with 12, complementing Clark’s standout performance.
In the postgame press conference, Clark was quick to share the accolades with her teammates. “I’m just happy we won. I take a lot of pride in being able to do a lot of different things for this team,” she remarked. “Obviously, 13 assists mean my teammates made 13 shots off my passes, so that goes to them.”
Aliyah Boston, not one to miss a beat, humorously interjected, “She’s so humble, isn’t she? That’s very cool, Caitlin. Great job, sister.”
The rarity of triple-doubles in the WNBA, given the shorter 40-minute games compared to the NBA’s 48 minutes, makes Clark’s feat even more impressive. The league has witnessed a surge in such performances recently, with nine recorded in the summer of 2022 alone. Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas leads the pack with career triple-doubles, her latest being a 13-point, 14-assist, 10-rebound effort against the Minnesota Lynx.
With this victory, the Fever improved to 9-13, securing the eighth spot in the league standings. Meanwhile, the Liberty, despite the loss, maintained their top position with a 17-4 record. The Fever will next face the Washington Mystics, currently ranked 11th, while the Liberty gear up for a challenging matchup against the second-ranked Connecticut Sun on Wednesday.
Clark’s historic night not only underscores her immense talent but also signals a bright future for the Indiana Fever as they continue to build on their promising season.