Caitlin Clark has once again cemented her place in WNBA history by breaking the league’s single-season assist record. With just under four minutes left in Friday’s matchup between the Indiana Fever and Las Vegas Aces, Clark dribbled past half court and delivered a perfect pass to Kelsey Mitchell, who drained an uncontested three-pointer. That assist marked Clark’s 317th of the season, surpassing the previous record of 316 set by Alyssa Thomas last year.
While Thomas needed 40 games to reach her milestone, Clark achieved the record in just 38 games. Courtney Vandersloot sits third and fourth on the all-time list, with 314 assists in 2023 and 300 in 2019, while Chelsea Gray rounds out the top five with 291 assists from last season.
Clark’s record-breaking assist was the highlight of an otherwise challenging first half against the Aces. She tallied six assists but was held scoreless and picked up three fouls, including a technical after an emotional outburst, slapping the hoop base and yelling: “Oh my god.”
Despite these frustrations, Clark’s achievements this season are remarkable. She already holds several WNBA rookie records, including most assists in a game (19), most 25-point, 10-assist games in a season (five), and most three-pointers by a rookie (112).
WNBA fans were also left irritated by some of the Aces’ defensive decisions against Clark, specifically Kate Martin’s approach, but Clark’s latest feat is yet another testament to her historic rookie campaign.
Clark’s utter dominance is all the more impressive considering this is her first taste of the WNBA. It hasn’t taken long for the 22-year-old to make her presence felt at the professional level, despite Diana Taurasi previously asserting that a significant transition period awaited her once she turned pro.
While speaking to ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt shortly after Iowa advanced to their second consecutive NCAA women’s basketball title game, the 42-year-old was asked how the league’s veterans would greet the incoming rookie class featuring the likes of Clark, Kamilla Cardoso, Angel Reese, Cameron Brink and others.
“When the college guys come out, they’re waiting for them. I mean, Kamilla’s coming, Caitlin’s coming, there’s more than just that that are coming. What will the league have in store for them when they get there?” Van Pelt asked.
“Look, SVP, reality is coming. You know, there’s levels to this thing. And that’s just life. We all went through it,” Taurasi replied. “And you see it on the NBA side, and you’re going to see it on this side, where, you know, you look superhuman playing against 18-year-olds, but you’re going to come with some grown women that have been playing professional basketball for a long time.
“Not saying that it’s not going to translate, because when you’re great at what you do, you’re just going to get better. But there is going to be a transition period where you’re going to have to give yourself some grace as a rookie, and, you know, it might take a little bit longer for some people.”
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