Indiana Fever rookie and U.S. Olympic snub Caitlin Clark is the primary WNBA participant in historical past to file at the very least 50 factors and 25 assists over any two-game span. The Phoenix Mercury’s three U.S. Olympic staff members struggled to maintain up along with her Friday night time.
Clark, 22, picked up the place she left off after resting for a month in the course of the WNBA Olympic break. She scored 13 of her 29 factors within the first quarter and added 10 assists and 4 3-pointers to assist Indiana defeat Phoenix 98-89.
“You knew they had been going to return in right here with loads of confidence, with three people who have received gold medals,” mentioned Clark, who was left off the Olympic roster. “You understand their confidence is absolutely excessive and I assumed we got here out and actually set the tone.”
Olympic snub Caitlin Clark turned the primary WNBA participant in historical past to file 50+ factors and 25+ assists over any 2 recreation span
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— Barstool Sports activities (@barstoolsports) August 17, 2024
Earlier than the matchup on Friday night time, Fever coach Christie Sides revealed throughout a pregame press convention what she discovered probably the most about her gamers over the break, together with her largest star.
“In all probability the one factor that caught out to me, Caitlin, as a rookie, got here in and was simply making an attempt to determine it out,” Sides mentioned. “She sort of loosened up a bit bit as you noticed, and he or she’s actually humorous. A extremely humorous individual. Fast wit. It’s enjoyable to banter along with her a bit bit after we’re off the basketball courtroom.”
Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark broke Diana Taurasi’s file for many 25-5-5 video games as a WNBA rookie
Moreover, Clark additionally broke Diana Taurasi’s file for many 25-5-5 video games as a rookie in opposition to the WNBA legend. Clark put up a league-record fourth recreation with at the very least 25 factors, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists.
She is slated to change into the primary WNBA participant to set different information sooner or later.
By means of 27 profession WNBA video games (all begins), Clark is averaging 17.6 factors, 5.8 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 1.4 steals, and 35.2 minutes per contest whereas capturing 40.9% from the sphere, 32.9% from 3-point vary, and 89.2% on the free throw line.
Caitlin Clark broke Diana Taurasi’s file for many 25/5/5 video games as a rookie, AGAINST Diana Taurasi pic.twitter.com/s6Sqz1SjXS
— Clark Report (@CClarkReport) August 17, 2024
Caitlin Clark recorded a career-high 30 factors in Indiana’s 88-82 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks on Could 28 and in an 85-83 victory over the Washington Mystics on June 7. She additionally drained a career-best seven 3-pointers at Washington in that matchup.
Moreover, she has notched 10 double-doubles and one triple-double to this point this season. She at the moment leads the WNBA this marketing campaign in 3-point makes an attempt (228), assists (223), turnovers (150), and assists per recreation.
Clark additionally ranks seventh in factors (474), second in minutes performed (950), third in made 3-pointers (75), sixth in free throws (107), tenth in steals (38), and eighth in utilization share (26.4%).