Caitlin Clark continues to make waves early in her standout rookie season with the Indiana Fever. In their recent game against the Dallas Wings, just before the All-Star break and the Olympic hiatus, Clark achieved two remarkable milestones that further bolster her bid for WNBA Rookie of the Year.
Firstly, she set a new franchise record for most assists in a single season with her 202nd assist, achieved in just 26 games—a testament to her playmaking skills and impact on the team.
Additionally, Clark made history by recording 19 assists in the game against Dallas, setting a new record for most assists in a single game by a rookie in WNBA history. Despite her exceptional performance, the Fever unfortunately fell short, losing 101-93 to the Wings at College Park Center.
Caitlin Clark continues to break new ground in her rookie season with the Indiana Fever
Caitlin Clark’s debut season in the WNBA has indeed been astonishing, building on her storied college career at Iowa. She has already shattered multiple records in the league.
Earlier this month, Clark made history as the first rookie ever to achieve 400 points, 150 assists, and 100 rebounds in a single season. She also notched the first triple-double by a rookie, showcasing her versatility and impact on the court.
Currently, Clark is locked in a tight race with her rival Angel Reese for the WNBA Rookie of the Year award. Reese, playing for the Chicago Sky, has also had a spectacular season, ranking second in the league with 11.9 rebounds per game, highlighting her dominant presence in the paint.
The competition between Clark and Reese has sparked divided opini ons among fans and analysts, as both rookies continue to impress with their outstanding performances in their inaugural WNBA campaigns.
Clark, meanwhile, is the highest-scoring rookie in the league with an average of 16.8 points per game, while she is also out in front altogether in the assist charts with 7.8 per game.
Clark put up the most assists by a rookie in a single WNBA game (19) while also setting a franchise record for assists in a single campaign (213)
Despite her heroics, though, the Fever slumped to a 101-93 defeat against the Wings
As the debate rages on as to who will be crowned winner, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal picked Reese as his ‘definite’ frontrunner this week.
Shaquille O’Neal, commenting on ESPN’s Sports Center, expressed his perspective on the WNBA Rookie of the Year race, acknowledging his bias toward Angel Reese due to their shared alma mater, LSU.
“I’m not just saying this because she went to LSU,” O’Neal remarked. “But I think she’s definitely leading in the Rookie of the Year race. I give the vote to Angel.”
Despite favoring Reese for the award, Shaq also praised Caitlin Clark for her exceptional performance throughout her record-breaking season with the Indiana Fever.
“Caitlin is a fabulous player, the female Steph Curry,” he added. “They [Clark and Reese] have both made significant contributions to the game.”
O’Neal’s comments highlight the competitive nature of the Rookie of the Year race and the impact both Clark and Reese have had on the WNBA in their debut seasons.
Clark is currently battling it out with arch-rival Angel Reese (pictured) for this season’s WNBA Rookie of the Year award
Shaquille O’Neal emphasized the transformative impact Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have had on women’s basketball, attributing their influence to social media and increased media coverage.
“Caitlin and Angel, because of social media and all the media outlets, they really brought the game where it should’ve been 10 years ago,” O’Neal expressed. “So I’m really happy for women’s basketball; they always play hard, and their fundamentals are great.”
Despite recognizing Caitlin Clark’s prowess as a player, O’Neal reiterated his current preference for Angel Reese in the Rookie of the Year race.
“But listen, Caitlin Clark is a fabulous player, Angel Reese is a fabulous player… but Imma give it to Angel Reese right now,” O’Neal concluded.
O’Neal’s remarks underscore the significant impact Clark and Reese have had in elevating the visibility and appreciation of women’s basketball, while also reflecting the competitive nature of the Rookie of the Year debate between these two talented rookies.
