Aug. 29 (UPI) — Caitlin Clark added yet another record to her magnificent initial campaign in the WNBA, setting a new mark for the most assists in a season for a rookie while leading the Indiana Fever over the Connecticut Sun.
Clark totaled 19 points, five assists and five rebounds in the 84-80 triumph Wednesday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Fellow Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell chipped in a game-high 23 points.
“I think the 3-point record is cool,” Clark told reporters. “I think it just speaks to the way we play offense and the way we’ve been playing offense as of late, just fast, off-tempo. I definitely think I’m capable of shooting a little bit better.
“I feel like I’ve gotten some tough rolls. … But I feel like I’m still shooting it well and taking good shots.
The Fever outshot the Sun 47% to 45.5%. They also made 43.3% of their 3-pointers, compared to 33.3% for the Sun. The game featured seven lead changes and was tied seven times.
The Sun started the game on an 8-2 run. The Fever responded with 10 unanswered points and led 33-26 at the end of the first quarter.
Clark set her rookie record during that stretch, making a 26-foot 3-point attempt 2:43 into the game. That shot gave her 86 3-pointers on the season, one more than the previous record of 85 set by Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard in 2022.
Clark totaled seven points over the first 10 minutes, while Mitchell scored 11.
The Sun tied the score midway through the second quarter, but the Fever went on to outscore their foes 13-4 to hold a 51-42 lead at the break.
Clark scored seven points in the third quarter, which featured two lead changes. The Fever carried a 69-66 edge into the fourth.
The Fever and Sun exchanged the lead three times in the final frame before Clark made a driving finger roll layup with 1:27 remaining, giving her team an 82-80 advantage. The Sun missed their final two shots, while Fever forward Lexie Hull put the game away with two made free throws in the final seconds.
Clark made 7 of 17 shots, including 3 of 12 3-point attempts, in the victory. Hull made 5 of 9 attempts for 17 points. Fever forward Nalyssa Smith and center Aliyah Boston scored 10 points apiece.
Sun guard Dijonai Carrington led the Sun, with 19 points in the loss.
Clark, who set the record for the most assists for a rookie in a single season earlier this year, is averaging 18 points and a WNBA-best 8.1 assists per game in 2024.
The Fever (15-16), winners in six of their last eight games, are in the No. 7 spot in the WNBA standings, with the Top 8 teams at the end of the season set to make the playoffs.
“I think you are just seeing our confidence grow at a different level than it was at the beginning of the season,” Clark said. “That’s what’s been motivating us the most honestly.”
Clark and the Fever will battle rookie phenom Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky (11-19) at 7:30 p.m. EDT Friday in Chicago.
