In a season that could easily be scripted into a Hollywood blockbuster, rookie sensation Caitlin Clark proved she was built for the WNBA limelight. Breaking records, not bones—well, except that one time—Clark led the Indiana Fever to the playoffs for the first time in almost a decade. And while many fans may have expected her most memorable moment to involve one of her many highlight-reel performances, Clark recently revealed it was something far less glamorous and a lot more painful.
Appearing on “60 Minutes,” Clark dropped an unexpected bombshell when asked about her most unforgettable rookie-season memory. No, it wasn’t her historic triple-doubles or that time she shattered the league’s assist record. Instead, it was a run-in with none other than New York Liberty’s towering center, Jonquel Jones.
Picture this: the Indiana Fever star charging down the court like a bullet train, only to be derailed by a screen so fierce that Clark ended up rupturing her eardrum. Yes, you read that right—a screen, of all things! Clark, ever the optimist, looked back on the incident with a mix of admiration and slight confusion about how exactly her eardrum got sacrificed to the basketball gods.
“We were in New York, and Jonquel set a screen on me. Next thing I know—boom! Eardrum popped. Ruptured my eardrum, just like that. I mean, it was a good screen. I’ll give her that,” Clark said, laughing as she recounted the painful (yet humbling) moment. “JJ’s a tremendous player, but it definitely taught me how physical this league can be. She got me in just the right spot, and now I have the battle scars—or, well, the hearing loss—to prove it!”
If there’s ever been a rookie welcome into the WNBA, this was it. Not many people can say they walked away from their first season with a triple-double and a perforated eardrum. But leave it to Clark to turn a moment of temporary deafness into a life lesson. “It’s something I’ll always remember—mainly because I’ll be shouting ‘WHAT?’ for the next few years,” she joked.
Ironically, it wasn’t long after this mishap that Clark made history, becoming the first WNBA rookie ever to record a triple-double in a game on July 6 against none other than the Liberty. Fast forward to September 4, and she casually did it again, this time against the powerhouse Las Vegas Aces. Clark also set a single-game assist record with a jaw-dropping 19 dishes against the Dallas Wings. But still, that Jonquel screen… talk about an impact player.
As if rupturing her eardrum wasn’t enough, Clark and Jones teamed up at the WNBA All-Star Game, forming a dynamic duo that looked like it had been in the works for years. Clark, always in playmaker mode, lobbed a sweet dime to JJ on a fast break, and Jones finished the play with ease. “If I’d known we’d be this good together, maybe I would’ve forgiven her earlier,” Clark quipped. “Just kidding, JJ, you’re amazing!”
Despite the wild ups and downs of her rookie season (who knew a screen could hit so hard?), Clark’s numbers tell the real story. The 22-year-old ended the season as the league’s leader in assists and finished seventh in points per game. She even broke the record for most points ever scored by a point guard in league history. Not bad for someone who probably needed to see an ENT specialist after week two.
“I know the triple-doubles and the assists are great for the stat sheet, but let’s not forget—Jonquel Jones literally screened me into a lesson I’ll never forget,” Clark said, with that signature smile.
All in all, Clark’s rookie year was one for the ages—and not just because she led the Fever to the playoffs or smashed every record in sight. It’s safe to say that ruptured eardrum might hold a special place in her memory, right next to her triple-doubles and broken assist records.
Lesson learned, folks: keep your eyes on the screen—especially when Jonquel Jones is setting it!
