In the Indiana Fever’s second game back from the Paris Olympics break, Caitlin Clark had a chance to make some unique WNBA history. The guard needed just a few assists to break the league’s all-time rookie single-season record of 225, set by Ticha Penicheiro for the now-defunct Sacramento Monarchs in 1998.
And with the Fever locked in a tight battle with the Seattle Storm in the third quarter, Clark found a way to create a dynamite advantage for her team — by pushing the ball in transition — while breaking the record at the same time.
Seriously, she threaded a perfect full-court dime to Kelsey Mitchell, showing off why her attaining the rookie assist record was probably inevitable:
CAITLIN CLARK SETS THE WNBA ROOKIE RECORD FOR MOST ASSISTS IN A SEASON ‼️ pic.twitter.com/ICgt75UI3d
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 18, 2024
With the mark official, the Fever shared a touching congratulatory message to Clark from Penicheiro:
"This record is in great hands."
Ticha Penicheiro congratulates Caitlin Clark on passing her for the @WNBA record for assists in a single season by a rookie. pic.twitter.com/lvzk6i78F2
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) August 18, 2024
The more time goes on, the more it becomes clear we’re truly watching Clark piece together one of the greatest WNBA rookie seasons ever.