Caitlin Clark continued her outstanding rookie season with a historic performance on Wednesday night, setting the WNBA’s all-time single-game assist record with 19 in the Indiana Fever’s 101-93 loss to the Dallas Wings.
Alongside her record-breaking assists, she also contributed 24 points and six rebounds, making her the first player in WNBA history to record a game with at least 20 points, five rebounds, and 15 assists. Teammate Aliyah Boston commented on Clark’s achievement, acknowledging its significance despite Clark’s likely modesty.
Prior to this game, Clark’s highest number of assists in a game was 13, a mark she had reached four times. Facing a defensively weak Wings team known for their fast pace, Clark quickly set herself up for a remarkable performance, matching her previous career-high by the third quarter.
As the game progressed, she surpassed her own record, then Ticha Penicheiro’s rookie record of 16 assists, and finally Courtney Vandersloot’s all-time record of 18 assists, achieving 19 in rapid succession during a late-game surge.
Fever coach Christie Sides praised Clark’s achievement as “incredible,” noting the significance of her 19-assist game. The record-breaking assist came with two minutes left when Kelsey Mitchell hit a 3-pointer, tying the game at 88-88.
Despite multiple chances to reach 20 assists, the Wings ultimately secured victory with a 13-5 run in the closing minutes. Interestingly, Clark’s most impressive pass of the night was a behind-the-back feed to Aliyah Boston, which led to free throws rather than an assist.
Clark expressed her commitment to helping her teammates succeed, sometimes to the point of overpassing. She emphasized her focus on setting up post players like Boston, illustrating her playmaking vision and selflessness. Her comments reflect a balanced approach, recognizing moments where she could opt to shoot instead of risking a turnover through passing.
In addition to setting the single-game assist record, Clark also broke the Fever’s single-season assist record on the same night, surpassing Erica Wheeler’s previous mark of 201 assists in just 26 games. With 213 assists this season, she is closing in on Penicheiro’s rookie record of 225 assists set in 1998.
Clark’s current pace suggests she could also challenge the all-time single-season assist record of 316, set by Alyssa Thomas last season. Averaging 8.2 assists per game, Clark leads the league and is on track to set a new rookie record for the highest assist average, potentially surpassing Vandersloot’s per-game record of 10 from the 2020 season.
