If it feels like Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark breaks a new WNBA record in nearly every game, it's because she does. Clark earned the title of Rookie of the Month for July after becoming the first rookie in WNBA history to record a triple-double, breaking the league record for most assists in a single game (19), and recording the most double-doubles (9) by rookie guard in league history.
In her first game back after the Olympic break, Clark extended her own record with a 10th double-double during the Fever's win over the Phoenix Mercury on August 17. She scored a team-high 29 points with 10 assists and 5 rebounds.
Playing against the Seattle Storm on Sunday, August 16, Clark broke the rookie season record of 224 assists recorded by Ticha Penicheiro in 1998 (30 games), per the WNBA. Clark recorded her 225th dime to Lexie Hull in the second quarter and the crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse went nuts.
While there was initial discrepancy over whether Penicheiro recorded 225 assists, that number is incorrect. Indy Star's Chloe Peterson posted, "Fever spokesperson says the number they got from Elias Sports Bureau, the official statisticians of the WNBA (and other major leagues), was that Ticha Penicheiro had 224 assists in her rookie season."
The WNBA only had a total of 30 regular season games in 1998, but Clark broke the new assist rookie record in her 28th tilt. Considering the former Iowa Hawkeye entered the game averaging 8.3 assists per game, which ranks first in the league, the new record comes as no surprise.
In fact, fans and analysts wanted Penicheiro to attend Sunday's matchup to see the torch passed. However, the former WNBA star couldn't make it.
She posted on X, "If I wasn’t celebrating my bestie 50th birthday I would definitely be in attendance. Huge fan of CC and what she’s doing for women’s sports!! I will be watching on tv though…"
But Penicheiro made sure Clark felt the love and recorded a surprise special message for the rookie. "Congratulations," the former second overall pick said in a video posted by the Fever.. "Super proud of you. I know that work that you put in.
"A lot of people always talked about your shooting, I was always mesmerized about your passing, about your court vision, and how you make your teammates better."
The 22-year-old phenom will continue to pad her assist record, as Indiana still has 12 more regular season games. If the Fever can continue to stack wins, they will earn a spot in the playoffs, as the top 8 teams make it to the postseason.
The Fever (12-15) entered Sunday's primetime showdown in seventh place while the Storm sit in fourth place (17-9).
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