Caitlin Clark Records WNBA's First 40-Point, 10-Assist Game, Sets Fever Scoring Record
· Yahoo Sports
Caitlin Clark became the first player in WNBA history to record 40 points and 10 assists in a game, scoring a career-high 45 points to go with 10 assists in the Indiana Fever's 110-107 win over the Seattle Storm on Friday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Clark ended the night with a franchise-record 45 points while shooting 11-of-18 from the field, 6-of-10 from three, and 17-of-19 free throws. She also had 2 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 blocks, and 4 turnovers in just under 30 minutes.
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Friday's breakout performance from Clark could be the start of some necessary momentum after scoring under 20 points in four consecutive games, averaging 13.3 points on 26.1% three-point shooting. Her lowest was July 8 with 9 points on 4-of-12 in a loss to the Los Angeles Sparks. This season, she's averaging 20.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 7.8 assists in 21 games.
Clark downplayed the milestone, focusing on the team's goals amid an up-and-down season for the Fever.
"I mean, it's cool. I don't really care and I know what I'm capable of, and I know what this team is capable of," Clark said. "It's my job to help us win and be the best team in the WNBA, and I don't think we're there yet. It's my responsibility to get us there. So we'll keep working."
Kelsey Mitchell backed up Clark with 30 points on 13-of-25 shooting. Monique Billings added 16 points and 5 rebounds, and Makayla Timpson pulled down 9 rebounds to go with 8 points.
Dominique Malonga led the Storm with a 28-point, 14-rebound double-double, and Flau'jae Johnson and Awa Fam each scored 16 as Seattle outscored Indiana 66-44 in the paint. Natisha Hiedeman scored 15 points with 8 assists, while Jade Melbourne had 15 points and 5 assists. Seattle shot 56.6% from the field for the game.
Clark did not sugarcoat her team's defensive effort.
"It was kind of an embarrassing performance on the defensive end, I'll be honest," Clark said. "We really got to find a way to be better."
The game featured five lead changes and was tied twice. Seattle's largest lead was 8 points, while Indiana's was 17, but it came down to the wire. The Fever's perimeter shooting and Clark's all-around performance helped them beat the Storm, who fell to 6-21.
Indiana improved to 15-10. The Western Conference has the league's four best records, led by the Minnesota Lynx, Las Vegas Aces, Golden State Valkyries, and Dallas Wings.
The Fever face a quick turnaround against the New York Liberty on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET, the second half of a back-to-back.
"True resiliency, but we've got another one tomorrow," Clark said. "So this one is great, but let's move on."