Earlier this season, Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark broke Ticha Penicheiro’s long-standing rookie assist record. Now, the No. 1 overall pick has her sights set on the all-time single-season mark, which was set just last season by Alyssa Thomas.
Clark is only a few months into her professional career, but she’s already established herself as the most dynamic playmaker in the league thanks to her pick-and-roll craft and transition brilliance. Her 8.3 assists per game lead the league and would be the highest average ever for a rookie.
Clark collected another 12 assists Friday night in an 100-81 victory over the Chicago Sky. She now needs 53 assists to surpass Thomas, who dished out 316 assists last season. At her current pace, Clark would do so during the Fever’s Sept. 15 game against the Dallas Wings.
Single-season assist record
| Player | Team | Season | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Alyssa Thomas |
2023 |
316 |
|
|
2023 |
314 |
||
|
Courtney Vandersloot |
2019 |
300 |
|
|
2023 |
291 |
||
|
Courtney Vandersloot |
Sky |
2021 |
275 |
|
Caitlin Clark |
Fever |
2024 |
264 |
|
Courtney Vandersloot |
Sky |
2018 |
258 |
|
Sky |
2023 |
251 |
Clark has always been an incredible passer, but that aspect of her game was overshadowed in college by her long-range shooting. That has not been the case in the WNBA. Clark has already become the first rookie to record a triple-double and set the all-time single-game assist record with 19 in a win over the Wings on July 17. She also has the Fever’s single-season assist record and the WNBA’s rookie assist record.
Furthermore, she’s recorded the fifth 30-point, 10-assist game in league history, broke the record for most games with at least 20 points and 10 assists (five) in a single season and is on pace to become the fourth player to average at least 15 points, five rebounds and five assists per game for an entire season.
