If you're a hardcore fan of Indiana rookie Caitlin Clark, you're probably used to having a records watch as part of your ongoing fandom. In fact, you probably need a spreadsheet to keep track of them all, because Clark posts new records on a seemingly daily basis as she continues to rewrite the WNBA rookie record book while posting some impressive league marks in the process.
Her latest record is about speed. Clark is now the fastest WNBA player ever to post 300 career assists, which she reached by posting 12 more assists in Indiana's important overtime win, 104-100, against the Altanta Dream last night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
The background on this assist record for Caitlin Clark
It wasn't exactly hard to see this particular record coming. Clark passed one part of Ticha Penicheiro's rookie assist record in August, beating her longstanding mark of 224 when she got to 232 in mid-August.
Along the way, Clark also broke Courtney Vandersloot's record for individual game record for assists, which stood at 18 until Clark posted 18 in an earlier game.
Clark also leads the league in assists per game with 8.5, but that's one of the few assist marks that seems reasonably safe from her ongoing onslaught, as Vandersloot had 10 per game in 2020 and another 9.1 per game the year before. Given how fast Clark's passing skills have developed, that one seems at risk next year when she'll have a full season of experience under her belt.
What this record meant and why it mattered so much
Some assist records come with a fair amount of potential stats padding, but this one meant a lot for the Fever. It came during a back-and forth battle against the Dream that had significant playoff implications for both teams.
Specifically, Clark posted 26 points to go with those 12 assists, along with five rebounds. The assists helped one of Clark's running mates, Aliyah Boston, to post a career-high 30 points and 30 rebounds, and Clark also set a franchise record with her 14th double-double of the year. To complete the numbers parade, Clark's four three-pointers extended her rookie record in that department to 111.
The third member of Indiana's emerging Big 3, Kelsey Mitchell, chipped in with 21, but Atlanta's Rhyne Howard kept things close by being close to unstoppable, with 36 points as Indiana finally outlasted the Dream in overtime.
The numbers can be a bit of a blur, but they're producing impressive results in the standings as well. Indiana will be going to the playoffs for the first time since 2016, and they're likely not going in as a lowly eighth seed, either. At 19-17, they're currently battling to hold off the Phoenix Mercury for the sixth spot, and right now that would put them up against Connecticut in the first round of the playoffs.
The Fever also have upcoming back-to-back games against Las Vegas, so they'll be able to test their playoff mettle early as they try to clean things up for the postseason.
The records Caitlin Clark doesn't want
With every ray of sunshine comes a potential dark cloud on the horizon, so we do have to mention the turnovers here. Clark is currently turning the ball over at a rate of 5.5 per game, which breaks the previous single season record of 4.4 a game that was set by Chantel Tremitiere back in 1997. Clark also had 171 miscues in her first 31 games, which is already over the league mark with plenty of games in the regular season.
How much does this matter? It depends on how you look at it. In individual games, high turnover numbers tend to matter more, especially when the games are close. The big picture perspective, though, is that Clark is still a rookie, and she loves to thread the needle and make highlight reel passes.
The turnovers are part of the fast-paced offensive package, but they should go down going forward. And if Clark can get them under control by the playoffs, Indiana may be poised for a first round upset against their first-round opponent.