When Caitlin Clark scored her career-high 45 points in the Indiana Fever’s 110-107 win over the Seattle Storm, it was a historic feat in its own right. It marked her first time hitting the 40-point plateau and the first time a player has accomplished this in franchise history.
But it was much more than just an individual milestone. Clark’s 45-point, 10-assist performance also marked the very first time in WNBA history that a player has recorded at least 40 points and 10 assists in a single game.
On top of the historic double-double, Clark stuffed the stat sheet with four steals, two blocks and two rebounds.
To put her dominance into perspective, the only four other players in basketball history to ever record a 45+ point, 10+ assist game with 4+ steals and 2+ blocks are Michael Jordan, Dwyane Wade, Luka Doncic, and Cade Cunningham.
What makes Clark’s achievement even more mind-blowing is that she is the only player to do all of this while playing in fewer than 30 minutes.
This is a truly incredible statistic for Clark, and it effectively demonstrates just how dominant she has become as a scorer and playmaker. Even more impressive, it was her 20th career points-assists double-double, tying Chelsea Gray for the fourth-most in WNBA history.
The volume of points wasn’t the only impressive aspect of Clark’s record – the efficiency with which she scored made the performance even more remarkable. Specifically, she shot 11-of-18 from the field and knocked down 6 of her 10 attempts from beyond the arc.
Her 45-point outing also tied for the ninth-highest scoring game in WNBA history, matching the 45-point performances of Elena Delle Donne, Breanna Stewart, and A’ja Wilson.
Friday’s historic performance was a long time coming for Clark, who has battled inconsistency and injuries at various points this season.
What Clark is doing right now is truly remarkable. The most incredible part is that she’s still not at full health. Despite managing a back injury, playing on a minutes restriction, and helping the Fever climb the standings, Clark is making the most of every opportunity. A few more performances like this over the coming weeks could firmly place her in the WNBA MVP conversation.
So keep a close eye on Clark in the weeks and months to come. She may not post award-worthy numbers on a regular basis, as she doesn’t have the supporting cast to set her up. Then again, she’s putting herself in a position to score regardless. Opposing teams are constantly showing they lack the ability to contain her, and she’s only going to get better. While catching the likes of A’ja Wilson and Paige Bueckers may still be a challenge, there is plenty of time left in the season for Clark to continue climbing the rankings. Clark currently ranks fourth in the WNBA in scoring and second in assists.
To put her dominance into perspective, the only four other players in basketball history to ever record a 45+ point, 10+ assist game with 4+ steals and 2+ blocks are Michael Jordan, Dwyane Wade, Luka Doncic, and Cade Cunningham.
Caitlin Clark Plays Down Historic Milestone
While the entire Indiana Fever roster and their fans heaped praise on Caitlin Clark’s historic outing, she made it clear that the numbers do not mean a lot to her.
“It’s cool. I don’t really care,” Clark said. “I know what I’m capable of, and I know what this team is capable of. It’s my job to help us win and be the best team in the WNBA. I don’t think we’re there yet, so it’s my responsibility to help us get there. So we’ll keep working.”
Her comments highlight the fact that there are still steps the Fever need to take before reaching the elite level. Indiana has been a developing team this season, currently sitting at sixth in the league standings while going 6-5 over their last ten games.
The Fever’s next test comes in the second game of a back-to-back against the New York Liberty, a matchup that will provide another measuring stick against one of the WNBA’s elite teams. However, with Clark nursing a lingering back injury, it remains to be seen whether she will suit up against the Liberty.
If this dominant version of Clark is what Indiana gets down the stretch, the Fever have their star hitting her stride at the perfect time. Clark currently ranks fourth in the WNBA in scoring and second in assists.
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