- WNBA. Caitlin Clark reveals her secret cool handshake with the Indiana Fever in a fun and exclusive reveal
- WNBA. Angel Reese refuses to leave the spotlight and makes scene on Sky bench while injured
With less than 10 days left in the historic WNBA season, there's only one playoff spot still up for grabs, while seven teams have already punched their tickets to the postseason, led by the New York Liberty (29-6). This season has been filled with record-breaking moments, from the most-watched draft in history on April 15, to the highest-rated All-Star Game, and a season where more than a million viewers tuned in for multiple games. Merchandise sales and sold-out arenas have also hit all-time highs. Beyond the off-court excitement, on the court, countless records have been shattered, and more will likely fall before the regular season wraps up on Thursday, September 19.
Caitlin Clark Chasing History
It's no surprise that Caitlin Clark has been a key driving force behind this surge in the WNBA's popularity. As of September 4, the league had aired 20 games with over a million viewers, with Clark and the Indiana Fever (19-17)starring in 17 of those. The most-watched game, featuring Indiana vs. Chicago Sky, attracted 2.30 million viewers, which also featured another rookie star, Angel Reese, who is now sidelined for the season due to injury. Reese's absence clears the way for Clark to claim the Rookie of the Year award, which was already leaning heavily in her favor. Not only is Clark the top rookie in recent years, but she's also a contender for MVP, just behind A'ja Wilson, who is on track to win her third MVP award while chasing a three-peat with the Las Vegas Aces (22-13).Clark's impact this season has been staggering-she's led the Fever to more wins than they achieved in the past two seasons combined and secured their first winning record since 2016.
Clark Among Rookies
Clark's rookie season has exceeded lofty expectations. She became the first rookie in WNBA history to record a triple-double, and she's done it twice this season. Her game revolves around three-pointers and assists, where she's already set rookie records. She leads all rookiesin three-pointers made and attempted, as well as assists, and by the end of the season, she'll likely have more than 100 assists over the next closest rookie. Continuing her averages of 24.7 points and 9.3 assists since the Olympic break, Clark is just 53 points shy of suring Seimone Augustus (744) as the rookie with the most points in WNBA history. Should she accomplish that, Clark would become the all-time rookie leader in points, assists, and three-pointers-not a bad way to start a career.
Clark Among Veterans
Comparing her performance to the league's veterans, Clark is 18 three-pointers away from breaking the WNBA record set by Sabrina Ionescu (128) last season. While her 3.1 average per game might fall short this year, she'll certainly be in striking distance next season. Another record that seems within reach is the one for most assists in a season, set by Alyssa Thomas (316) last year. Clark currently sits at 306 assists this season, leading the league with 8.5 assists per game, so it's likely she'll break the record in one of her home games. On a less positive note, Clark also leads the league in turnovers this season with 204, far suring the previous record. However, this is a byproduct of her ball-dominant playstyle, and it's an area she'll need to work on as she continues her rapid rise in the WNBA, where she's also second in minutes played and eighth in points per game.
Fever's Final Four Games
In the Fever's remaining four games, three will be at home, giving them a solid chance to climb higher in the standings. They're currently in sixth place, two games behind the Seattle Storm. While it seems they'll finish outside the top four, meaning a tough matchup in the first round of the playoffs, every opponent will be a title contender. A potentially great matchup for TV ratings would be against the Minnesota Lynx, as Clark grew up cheering for them. However, the way she finishes this season will have already been a milestone for Clark and the WNBA but the best thing is that she is only 22 years old and we are seeing the beginning of something very promising.