- Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever continues a record-breaking rookie season in the WNBA after driving record crowds and TV viewership.
- Clark became the first rookie in WNBA history to record a triple-double, hitting the mark in a win on Saturday over the New York Liberty.
- Clark still leads the WNBA Rookie of the Year odds over Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky.
Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever is under a microscope like no WNBA player who came before her. She got off to a mixed start to her WNBA career, but the game is slowing down for her. As a result, she and her team have been more successful as of late.
Clark added another WNBA record to her resume on Saturday, July 6. First, there were record WNBA betting numbers for her debut. Then, the Fever and the Las Vegas Aces hosted the biggest crowd in the WNBA since 1999 just last week. She became the first rookie in WNBA history to notch a triple-double as Clark led the Fever to a comeback win over the New York Liberty.
The Fever are now in the playoff spots as the league approaches its Olympic break. Clark is also still atop the Rookie of the Year odds, as she tries to hold off Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky.
Clark, Fever Come Back From 11 Points to Break Losing Skid Against Liberty
The Fever had lost nine games in a row to the Liberty heading into this game, and it looked like they were headed towards a 10th consecutive defeat to New York. However, the Fever outscored the Liberty 28-16 in the fourth quarter to earn an 83-78 win at home. The Fever actually jumped out to a 24-18 lead after the first quarter, but then were outscored 44-31 in the middle quarters.
Clark led the way with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 13 assists to get the first rookie triple-double in NBA history. She also took care of the ball reasonably well after recording four turnovers.
Aliyah Boston added 18 points and eight rebounds for the Fever, who played excellent defense in the fourth quarter. They did an outstanding job on two-time MVP Breanna Stewart, who had 14 points, but on 3-of-11 shooting, including 0-for-5 from three-point land.
The Fever lost 10 of their first 13 games to start the season, but have won six of their last nine. A lot of that success is due to Clark’s connection with Boston. The rookie can still score the ball, but since Boston has gotten more involved, it has opened up the floor for Clark and the rest of the team.
Still, Clark is the engine of the Fever and is having a fantastic rookie debut. She is averaging 16.1 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 7.4 assists. The star is second in the league to Connecticut’s Alyssa Thomas in assists, and her rebound numbers are the best in the league for a guard.
Of course, Clark still has some work to do. She’s shooting just 39.3% from the field, and 33.1% from beyond the arc. The guard also turns the ball over 5.5 times per game, almost two more than Thomas’ 3.8 turnovers.
Clark Still Leads Reese in WNBA Rookie of the Year Odds
Most WNBA betting sites still have Clark ahead of the Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese in the Rookie of the Year odds. Reese is also having a superb season, setting her own records. On Sunday, July 7, she broke the WNBA record with her 13th consecutive double-double in an 84-71 loss in Seattle. The former LSU star is averaging 14.1 points and 11.9 rebounds.
Clark and Reese are always going to be connected, given their college rivalry. Reese’s LSU Tigers beat Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes in the 2023 NCAA Final. Iowa got their revenge in a semifinal win over LSU in 2024.
Clark didn’t make the Olympic team, but neither did Reese. The two will be on the WNBA All-Star team facing the US Olympians on July 20th in the league’s All-Star Game. It will be fun to see the two rookie stars on the same team, for once!
