Freshman sensation Caitlin Clark closed out the Indiana Fever’s home finale by breaking the single-season record for a WNBA rookie against the Dallas Wings.
Clark scored a career-high 35 points in Indiana’s 110-109 win over Dallas. He has now scored 761 points so far this season, breaking the rookie record set by Seimone Augustus of the Minnesota Lynx in 2006.
“I think he was excited to play,” Clark said after the game. “Anytime you get a chance to go on the field and play and you know it was our last regular season at home, it’s fun. It’s the weekend, it’s an afternoon game. It just gets better.
“Once I hit my first free throw and made a few after that, my shot was pretty good,” he continued. “And honestly, I feel like I should have made eight (3-pointers) tonight. I felt like I hit some tough shots and I just couldn’t get into shape. I know I got 6 out of 14, which is pretty good, but I think there were a few where I was like, “Ah, how come he didn’t get in?” So, but yeah, just to play freely and know that we’ve had success against this team in our first two games with them, I think it gives you confidence as a player. »
His outstanding impact this season has been key to the team’s run as they secured their first play-off spot since 2016, while also securing a sixth place finish on Sunday night.
“I’m really proud of these players for what they did, the work they did and the resilience they showed,” Fever coach Christie Sides said.
This team has undergone a complete transformation, indicating everything at the right time. By surrounding Clark, whose basketball IQ is already outstanding, with playmakers, the team found its groove as it continues to find its groove.
The Fever now face the Washington Mystics on Thursday in the final game of the regular season, with the playoffs starting on Sunday.