Caitlin Clark became the first rookie in WNBA history to record a triple-double on Saturday, posting 19 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds in an 83-78 comeback victory over the first-place New York Liberty.
The Fever trailed 66-55 early in the fourth quarter, but Clark led Indiana on a ferocious comeback that included an 11-0 run to turn a 75-68 deficit into a 79-75 advantage.
During that stretch, Clark converted a three-point play, found Kelsey Mitchell for a game-tying three-pointer and earned her 13th and final assist on a dish to Lexie Hull to cap the scoring run.
The Liberty cut the Fever lead to 79-78 off a Sabrina Ionescu three-pointer with 1:09 left, but that’s as close as they would get. Indiana hit four free throws down the stretch to salt the game away.
Saturday was undoubtedly an amazing game for Clark, who not only posted her best professional stat line but did so against the WNBA’s best team in comeback fashion while leading her squad in points, assists, rebounds and steals (two).
On a team basis, the Fever are looking great right now as winners of six of their last nine after a 3-10 start. The Fever are in a fight for the playoffs with the second half of the season just getting underway, but they look to be in a good position to do so with the talent firing on all cylinders.
There is, of course, the never-ending debate between Clark and Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese, who is phenomenal in her own right.
Reese has posted a WNBA record 12 straight double-doubles and counting after a fantastic 27-point, 10-rebound outing in a 88-84 road win over the fourth-place Seattle Storm on Friday.
Fans are sure to debate whether Clark or Reese deserves the WNBA’s Rookie of the Year, and that discourse continued Saturday as the ex-Iowa star put on a show. Some loved Clark’s performance, of course, and gave her the nod after watching her.
Of course, there’s still plenty of season left to decide the victor, but right now, Clark and Reese (and their respective teams) are must-see television as they continue their excellent play.
