Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark had an incredible game on Friday night, tying the WNBA rookie record for 3-pointers in a single game. Clark drained seven threes and scored a game-high 30 points, leading the Fever to a thrilling 85-83 win over the Mystics in Washington.
Check out these highlights from Clark's performance:
- 7-of-13 from 3-point range
- 8-of-15 overall shooting
- 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals
"It felt good to shoot the ball well. I felt like even my misses were right there," Clark shared. "It was nice to have a night like that, and overall we shot the ball well, 16 made 3s."
After starting off by missing her first two shots, Clark didn't let it get to her. "I started off missing my first two, so it was kind of annoying because both of them were pretty open. But I think it was just 'keep shooting,' and I thought my teammates set really good screens. I was just able to create off of those. As a shooter, once you see one or two go in, the basket just looks bigger and bigger."
Clark's seven 3-pointers tied the rookie record set by Crystal Robinson in 1999. Robinson, now an assistant coach with the Chicago Sky, played two seasons with the Colorado Xplosion before joining the New York Liberty. Clark’s shooting range was impressive, with an average shot distance of 24 feet, and eleven of her threes coming from at least 25 feet away. She’s had eight games with at least seven shots from 25 feet, a feat matched only once by New York’s Sabrina Ionescu this season.
Friday’s game wasn’t just significant for Clark’s performance. The Mystics, who relocated to the smaller Entertainment and Sports Arena in 2019, played at Capital One Arena to accommodate the larger crowd drawn by rookies like Clark and Angel Reese. With 10,000 fans on Thursday and 20,333 on Friday, it was the largest crowd for a WNBA game since the 2007 Finals. "The crowds never get old; they're great," Clark said. "I think at times they might have been cheering for us. It's fun to see people in Fever gear. It's fun to see people screaming about women's basketball."
Despite the Mystics' 0-11 start, the game atmosphere was electric. The Fever, now 3-9, needed a win after a tough 104-68 loss to New York where Clark was held to just 3 points. The rest they got this past week seemed to pay off.
Clark, who has rapidly made her mark in the WNBA, also became the fastest player to reach 200 points and 75 assists, achieving this in just 12 games, breaking the previous record set by Seattle's Sue Bird in 2002. Clark has been a consistent leader for the Fever, topping or tying for the team lead in assists in every game.
Reflecting on her transition to the professional league, Clark said, "I knew what I was getting into. Maybe some people didn't know the circumstances of the WNBA. But me, personally, I know it's one of the best leagues in the world, the players are really good. I've been a big fan of this league all my life. You're starting a new chapter, a new part of your career becoming a professional athlete. Not everything's going to click overnight. Keep working and keep grinding, and it will come over time."
Clark’s journey and performance continue to inspire, showing just what’s possible with determination and a love for the game.
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