Caitlin Clark grinned and paused briefly, allowing her Indiana teammate Aliyah Boston to step in and interpret what setting a WNBA record with 19 assists meant to the rookie.
Clark achieved this milestone during the Fever’s 101-93 loss to the Dallas Wings on Wednesday night, marking the final game before the Olympics break, which prompted Boston to chime in.
“She might say it doesn’t mean much,” Boston remarked. “But I think it’s pretty cool. So, sorry.”
Clark’s record-breaking feat came with just over two minutes left in the game when she assisted Kelsey Mitchell for a game-tying 3-pointer. However, a turnover in the final minute proved costly as the Wings capitalized on an 8-0 run to seal the victory.
“Yeah, that late turnover. That one hurts,” Clark admitted. “It’s a delicate balance. They were pressuring me, so I tried to find a way to attack. But then I lost control.”
The previous record of 18 assists was held by Courtney Vandersloot of Chicago, achieved on Aug. 31, 2020. Vandersloot also matched this in a playoff game on Sept. 28, 2021. Ticha Penicheiro held the previous rookie record with 16 assists for Sacramento on July 29, 1998.
Despite a tough night shooting from 3-point range (2 of 9), Clark contributed 24 points, while Boston excelled with 28 points on 11-of-14 shooting, largely benefiting from Clark’s eight assists.
“I focus on setting up my teammates for success,” Clark emphasized. “Sometimes, I might pass too much and could have taken a shot instead, especially with (Boston). I’m always looking to create opportunities for our post-players.”
