Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever returned to the court on Friday night, delivering a commanding win over the Phoenix Mercury. Clark showcased one of her most well-rounded performances to date, tallying 29 points, five rebounds, and 10 assists.
As the season progresses, one of the most compelling narratives is Clark’s pursuit of a historic rookie assist record. The No. 1 overall draft pick already made waves by setting the WNBA’s single-game assist record with 19 against the Dallas Wings on July 17, and she currently leads the league with an average of 8.3 assists per game.
Clark’s assist total for the season now stands at 223, putting her just three assists shy of surpassing Ticha Penicheiro’s all-time rookie record of 225. Clark will have the chance to break this record in the Fever’s upcoming game against the Seattle Storm on Sunday.
Rookie assist record tracker
| Player | Team | Season | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ticha Penicheiro | Monarchs | 1998 | 225 |
| Caitlin Clark | Fever | 2024 | 223 |
Despite a somewhat rocky start to her professional career, Clark found her stride in June and has since emerged as arguably the best point guard in the league. It took her only 26 games to set the Fever’s franchise record for most assists in a single season. Additionally, Clark made history as the first rookie to record a triple-double in the WNBA, achieving the feat in a win over the New York Liberty on July 6. Her remarkable play also earned her a starting spot in the All-Star Game, where she led Team WNBA to an upset victory over Team USA, setting a rookie record for assists in the event.
So far this season, Clark is averaging 17.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game. Among rookies, she ranks first in both scoring and assists, while she stands 11th in scoring and leads the entire league in assists.
As Clark closes in on Penicheiro’s record, her rookie season continues to solidify her place as one of the league’s most dynamic and influential players.
