The Fever guard is emerging as the Rookie of the Year favorite.
Caitlin Clark’s rookie season is just 15 games old, but the Indiana Fever guard has already experienced plenty of ups and downs. Clark is used to plaudits and intense press coverage for her playing style, but entering the WNBA has proven to be a whole new ballgame relative to her four-year stint in the NCAA.
Clark became embroiled in fresh controversy on Father’s Day when she drew a flagrant foul on college rival Angel Reese during the Fever’s 91-83 victory over the Chicago Sky. Both Clark and Reese have s ince dismissed the incident as simply a “basketball play,” and Clark — a steely but measured competitor will be more focused on augmenting a bit of history she made on Sunday.
Clark achieves a WNBA first
Part of the reason why Clark has developed such a strong following and a devoted fanbase is because she has made the impossible (like breaking the NCAA scoring record) possible. The former Iowa Hawkeye has taken that excitement-inducing quality with her to Indiana, and on Sunday, she became the fastest player in WNBA history to record at least 200 total points, 75 total rebounds, and 75 total assists.
It took Clark 12 games to surpass the 200-point mark, and against Chicago, she added 23 more points to increase her season scoring average to 16.1 points per game. Clark is beginning to stuff the stat sheet in other ways, too — she added nine assists and eight rebounds against the Sky, flirting with her first career triple-double and flashing an improved understanding with the Fever’s other star, center Aliyah Boston (who finished with 19 points and 14 rebounds).
Taking 15 games to reach these statistical marks is the tip of the iceberg for Clark, whom many still expect will become a generation-defining superstar in the WNBA. Clark and her team seem to be improving each week — after an 0-5 start, the Fever are now 5-10 and making a surprise push for one of the W’s final playoff spots.
