Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark made WNBA history on Saturday afternoon against the New York Liberty, grabbing her 10th rebound in the fourth quarter, making Clark the first rookie in WNBA history to record a triple-double.
Clark had 19 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds in Saturday’s 83-78 win over Liberty, helping the Fever avoid Seafoam’s four-game winning streak.
“I’m happy to get the win,” Clark said after the game, according to ESPN’s Michael Vaupel. “I’m proud of the things we can do for this team. If we can pick the ball up off the glass and get in transition and find our teammates and make the pass, I think we’re a really good team.”
Saturday’s triple-double was the latest feat for Clark, who was selected first overall in last spring’s draft. Not only did it begin a historic trajectory for the rookie, Clark also became the first player in Fever history to accomplish the feat.
New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) and Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) watch a free throw during a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Saturday, July 6, 2024. /Grace Smith/IndyStar/USA Today Network
Clark’s performance Saturday was in stark contrast to her last matchup with the Liberty on June 2 at Barclays Center, where she made just 1 of 10 field goals in a 104-66 loss. With Saturday’s win at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indiana (9-13) has won seven of its next 11 games and currently holds the eighth and final playoff spot in the WNBA playoff bracket (which will see it face the top-ranked Liberty in the first round).
Clark played a big role in that resurgence, averaging 16.6 points and 6.8 rebounds in that span, along with a WNBA-best 8.4 assists, and her efforts were subsequently rewarded with a WNBA All-Star Game nomination alongside teammate and last year’s Rookie of the Year, Aaliyah Boston.
“We’re definitely playing better basketball… and we’re coming together better as a team,” Clark said in Vaupel’s report, “but the biggest difference for us is we don’t crumble when the other team is pushing us. We always believe we can win games.”
Clark’s first chance to follow up will come Wednesday afternoon when the Fever plays at home against the Washington Mystics (12 p.m. ET, NBA TV).
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