Caitlin Clark has officially set a new career-high by scoring 34 points, making it her highest-scoring game ever. As a rookie, she’s had multiple big scoring games, including 34, 31, and several 29-point games. While I’ve seen Candace Parker score 34 as a rookie and reports suggesting others like A’ja Wilson and Parker also had 35-point games, I haven’t found an official list of rookie scoring records. If anyone knows, drop it in the comments!
One thing I do know for sure is that Caitlin Clark’s 34 points surpassed Cheryl Swoopes’ career-high. This fun fact came from a post on Reddit before it was removed. Imagine if we could freely discuss this on WNBA forums without strict moderation!
It’s wild to think that Caitlin Clark, as a 22-year-old rookie, has now scored more in a game than Cheryl Swoopes ever did in her career. While I’m not saying Clark is better than Swoopes, especially considering Swoopes’ defensive skills, it’s clear that Clark’s early career is ahead of where Swoopes was at the same age. Swoopes entered the league at 26, while Clark is just 22.
Some people are thrilled by this, and it’s a big moment for Clark’s fans. She’s now in the conversation for being one of the best players in the world. Sure, it’s not a rookie record — it’s her career-high — but it’s an exciting milestone.
Let’s also give credit to Candace Parker, an incredible player in her own right. But right now, Caitlin Clark is chasing rookie records set by legends like Simone Augustus. Clark needed 18 points to tie Augustus but ended with 17. Currently, she’s just 39 points shy of 800 points for the season. While it seems unlikely she’ll hit that mark in her final game, anything’s possible, especially with Clark’s talent.
In her last game against Washington, in what was practically a shootout, Clark’s performance shined in a high-scoring game where neither team seemed to focus on defense. It was a thrilling 110-109 match, and Clark showed once again that she’s the real deal. She’s improving on both ends of the floor, becoming more aggressive and playing better defense.
There may be occasional bad shooting nights, like her struggles against Las Vegas this week, but Clark continues to elevate her game. Right now, I’m standing by my statement: Caitlin Clark is the best point guard in the WNBA, and she’s only getting better. Yes, there are other great players like Arike Ogunbowale who can get hot, but Clark’s consistency and leadership make her the best guard in the league right now.
