Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark breaks WNBA record for most assists in a season in loss to Las Vegas Aces

CNN
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Caitlin Clark added another milestone to her historic rookie season by breaking the WNBA single-season assist record in the Indiana Fever’s 78-74 loss to the Las Vegas Aces on Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Clark needed just four assists to start the game to match the previous record of 316, set by Connecticut Sun defenseman Alyssa Thomas in 2023. She set the new record in the second quarter with a throw-in to teammate Kelsey Mitchell, who ran into the zone and sank the basket.

Clark finished the game with 18 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, while Mitchell led Indiana with 20 points in the loss.

The performance marks another historic season for the 2024 No. 1 pick, in which she set the WNBA single-game assist record with 19 assists in July against the Dallas Wings and the rookie assist record last month. Clark is also the first rookie to record a triple-double and holds the most three-pointers made by a rookie in league history.

Indiana trailed 43-35 at halftime before Clark came on fire in the third quarter, scoring 14 points to bring the Fever within three. After Damiris Dantas tied the game at 60-60 with a three-pointer early in the fourth quarter, the Aces extended their lead with a 9-2 run.

The Fever had a chance to tie the game with less than 20 seconds left, but Fever star Aliyah Boston missed the three-point attempt. Aces guard Chelsea Gray made two free throws on the ensuing possession to put the game out of reach.

Aces star A’ja Wilson, who just set the WNBA’s single-season points record on Wednesday, scored 15 points and 17 rebounds in the win, while Gray added 21 points and six assists.

After the game, Clark was asked about her record-breaking night as well as Wilson and Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese’s milestones this season.

“I think it definitely reflects the whole year and how historic it was for this league and how great the basketball was in the league,” Clark said.

“We’re not even in the playoffs yet. I think that’s the great thing about it. We’re going to continue to see records being broken. But I also think it’s really good basketball. That’s why it was so much fun to watch. That’s why so many fans came out. The ratings were absolutely overwhelming this year,” she added.

“I think everyone is stepping up their game, the competition is getting better and better and it’s fun as a competitor to compete every night in this league and know that you have to play your best because you know whoever is on the other side of the court is going to play their best and that’s what makes it fun,” Clark said. “It’s been cool to see everyone really step up and step up and to be a part of that has been really fun for me as well.”

Despite losing to the Aces for the second straight year, the Fever remain sixth in the standings and have already secured a playoff spot. Indiana will face Dallas on Sunday before closing out the regular season against the Washington Mystics on Sept. 19.