While the Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese has made a strong case to be the WNBA’s Rookie of the Year off of averaging a double-double (13.4 points, 12.0 rebounds) a game, Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark is right there with her as both are playing at an extremely high level.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Leading the Fever since she was drafted No. 1 overall this year, Clark has averaged 17.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and a WNBA-leading 8.3 assists per game so far in her debut season.
Both Clark and Reese faced the Phoenix Mercury back-to-back, with the Sky falling 85-65 on Thursday and the Fever beating Phoenix 98-89 on Friday. Reese made Sky single-season history when she recorded her 118th offensive rebound of the year.
Phoenix Mercury 50-32 Chicago Sky | 9:15 left in 3Q
Nate Tibbetts called a quick timeout after four points by Sky. Angel Reese broke Chicago's single-season record in offensive rebounds (118).#ValleyTogether #WNBA #SkyTown
— Burn City Mercury (@BurnCityMercury) August 16, 2024
Unlike Reese, however, Clark not only broke a pair of WNBA records but her team was victorious.
Off of a 29-point performance where she eclipsed 10 assists and five rebounds, she passed Mercury legend Diana Taurasi for most games with at least 25 points, five rebounds and five assists in a rookie season (4), according to the WNBA stat tracking website Across The Timeline. She is also the fourth WNBA player in league history to reach this feat as well, joining New York Liberty guards Sabrina Ionescu and Courtney Vandersloot, and former Mercury guard Skylar Diggins-Smith.
Clark now just the 4th player in WNBA history to have multiple career regular season games with 25+ PTS, 10+ AST, and 5+ REB (joining Sabrina Ionescu, Courtney Vandersloot, and Skylar Diggins-Smith)https://t.co/SW8ShEaDL0 https://t.co/5Gcl8DUhrW
— Across the Timeline (@WBBTimeline) August 17, 2024
Furthermore, Clark became the first WNBA rookie ever to post 450 points and 200 assists in a season.
Clark and Kelsey Mitchell were at the forefront of dismantling the Mercury in the first quarter, seeing Indiana score 33 points in the frame. Mitchell ended with 28 points as she was the recipient of multiple assists dished out by Clark.
“Obviously Caitlin is an unbelievable passer and Kelsey shot the heck out of it,” Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts said postgame. “I thought Caitlin made good plays looking for Kelsey, I am not sure how she was getting open. We’ll have to look at that.”
Phoenix fought back late but their rally from behind came up short. Kahleah Copper scored 32 points in the loss, the second game in a row where she had 29-plus points after the Olympic break.
As a result of the victory, the Fever improved to 12-15 and is the seventh seed in the WNBA.
Not making the playoffs since 2016, Indiana is on the rise with players like Clark, Mitchell, Aliyah Boston and NaLyssa Smith. Before Clark’s arrival, the Fever had been either at or near the bottom of the WNBA standings for the past few years and needed someone like her to help revitalize the franchise.
With Clark leading Indiana into a possible postseason berth, the rookie sensation will continue to show how special she is and why she is already taking the league by storm.
Caitlin Clark explodes for 29 points, Fever beat Mercury 98-89 to complete regular-season sweep
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers ASU Athletics, the Phoenix Mercury and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
