Caitlin Clark breaks WNBA single-game assists record in Indiana Fever defeat

Indiana rookie Caitlin Clark broke the WNBA record for assists in a game on Wednesday night, finishing with 19 in the Fever’s 101-93 loss to the Dallas Wings.

“I just try to set my teammates up for success,” Clark said. “I think I can almost overachieve sometimes.”

The previous record was set by Courtney Vandersloot for Chicago on August 31, 2020, with 18 points. Vandersloot also had 18 points in a playoff game on September 28, 2021.

The previous record for assists by a rookie in the league was 16, set by Ticha Penicheiro for Sacramento on July 29, 1998.

Clark’s record-breaker came on a play where she set up Kelsey Mitchell for a 3-pointer with 2:22 left. That tied the score at 93, but Dallas closed with an 8-0 run that included a turnover by Clark to leave the Fever behind by four with 36 seconds left.

Clark entered the game as the WNBA’s assists-per-game leader this season, adding 24 points on 10-for-19 shooting.