Caitlin Clark was born in 2002, five years after the WNBA launched, and grew up watching the league. Playing in the WNBA has long been one of her dreams. Now, near the end of her record-breaking first season, it’s clear that she has already made a mark in just one summer.
“A lot of people in this rookie class grew up just loving this league,” Clark said. “They speak of a lot of memories through their childhood that were spent at a WNBA game or they have a specific player that they love.
“I don’t know if being a fan necessarily makes you more prepared to play in the WNBA — but maybe from the standpoint of really knowing how good this league is. You’re going to continue to see these young players that come into the league and have idolized [a player] or specific team … and that was a very impactful part of their young life.”
Some might one day say Clark influenced them that way. She is off to a strong start to what could be an epic career. Just how good has she been as a rookie?
She currently leads the WNBA in assists and 3-pointers and ranks seventh in scoring. She became the first rookie to get a triple-double; she has two. Clark has eight games of at least 20 points and 10 assists, the most by any player in a season. Through Sunday’s victory over the Atlanta Dream, she became the first player in WNBA history to average at least 25 points and 10 assists over a five-game span.
Clark also has made at least three 3-pointers in 10 consecutive games, the longest streak in WNBA history. And Clark has been a big factor in helping the Indiana Fever break their seven-year playoff drought, as they have qualified for the postseason for the first time since 2016.
