In a dazzling display of court vision that left everyone wondering if she has eyes in the back of her head, Fever rookie Caitlin Clark shattered the WNBA record for most assists in a single game. Clocking in with an astonishing 19 dimes, Clark’s performance on Wednesday was so mind-blowing that even the basketball gods had to take a seat.
Clark, who’s apparently decided that rookie status is no barrier to rewriting history, surpassed Courtney Vandersloot’s previous high mark of 18 assists set in 2020. And while the Fever’s defense might have resembled Swiss cheese with a side of “Oops, we did it again” by letting the Wings soar to a 101-93 victory, Clark’s offensive fireworks were nothing short of spectacular.
At just 22, Clark has been dishing out double-digit assists like candy at a parade, hitting this mark in six of her last seven games. And because she likes to add a little extra pizzazz to her stats, she also dropped 24 points on 10-of-19 shooting and snagged six rebounds. Talk about a one-woman show!
The Fever’s scoreboard might have looked grim, but Clark’s passes were pure poetry in motion. Notably, she didn’t just break records—she demolished them. She toppled Ticha Penicheiro’s rookie record from 1998 and outshone Vandersloot’s 2009 high score. The kid’s got style, folks.
Here’s the lowdown on how Clark made history and which other WNBA stars have flirted with this record:
| Player | Assists | Season | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caitlin Clark | 19 | 2024 | Fever |
| Courtney Vandersloot | 18 | 2020 | Sky |
| Alyssa Thomas | 16 | 2023 | Sun |
| Sabrina Ionescu | 16 | 2022 | Liberty |
| Courtney Vandersloot | 16 | 2021 | Sky |
| Ticha Penicheiro | 16 | 2002 | Monarchs |
| Ticha Penicheiro | 16 | 1998 | Monarchs |
Clark’s partnership with her teammates is like a fine wine—it just keeps getting better with age. She didn’t even hit double digits in assists until her 18th WNBA game, but now she’s racking them up like there’s no tomorrow. Before Wednesday, her highest was 13 assists in a game. Now, she’s set the bar at a jaw-dropping 19.
Despite the Fever’s less-than-stellar defense, Clark and Aliyah Boston, who poured in 28 points, found a new level of synergy against the Wings. Shooting better than 53% from the field, they were a dynamic duo that made sure the Wings had to earn their win.
As Clark continues to build her case for WNBA Rookie of the Year, this record is another shiny accolade to add to her growing collection. Sure, she would’ve preferred a win, but breaking records isn’t a bad consolation prize. Some pundits have thrown Angel Reese’s hat into the Rookie of the Year ring, but Clark’s recent exploits might just tilt the scales in her favor.
While the Fever have a bit of a break until August 16, Clark isn’t slowing down. She’s set to light up the court in Saturday’s All-Star Game, where she’ll showcase her skills against Team USA. So, grab your popcorn, because the Caitlin Clark show is just getting started!