Indiana Fever freshman Caitlin Clark made WNBA history in her showdown with the New York Liberty on Saturday afternoon: by earning her 10th rebound in the fourth quarter, Clark became the first rookie in WNBA history to record a triple-double.
Clark finished Saturday’s game with 19 points, 13 assists, and 12 rebounds en route to an 83-78 victory over the Liberty, one that allowed the Fever to avoid a four-game seafoam sweep.
“I’m just happy we won,” Clark said in the aftermath, per Michael Voepel of ESPN. “I take a lot of pride in being able to do a lot of different things for this team. I think we’re really good when I can get the ball off the glass and just go in transition, and find my teammates and set them up.”
Saturday’s triple-double is the latest accomplishment for Clark, the top overall pick from last spring’s draft. In addition to embarking on a historic path for rookies, Clark is also the first player in Fever history to pull off the feat.
Clark’s Saturday prowess was a stark contrast from her last showdown with the Liberty, which saw her limited to 1-of-10 from the field in a 104-66 loss at Barclays Center on June 2. With Saturday’s win at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indiana (9-13) has won seven of its ensuing 11 and currently holds the eighth and final playoff spot on the WNBA playoff bracket (which would set up a first-round match with the top-ranked Liberty).
Clark has played a major role in that resurgence, averaging a WNBA-best 8.4 assists in that span alongside 16.6 points and 6.8 rebounds. Her efforts have since been rewarded with a WNBA All-Star Game nomination alongside teammate and reigning Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston.
“We’re definitely playing good basketball … we’re playing together better,” Clark said in Voepel’s report. “But I think the biggest difference for us has been when teams make runs, we don’t crumble. We always believe we’re in the games.”
Clark’s first chance at a follow-up lands on Wednesday afternoon when the Fever face the Washington Mystics at home (12 p.m. ET, NBA TV).
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