Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark set a new WNBA record on Friday night, becoming the first player in league history to record at least 40 points and 10 assists in a single game. She achieved this milestone against the Seattle Storm, scoring 45 points and adding 10 assists, with four steals. The performance also marked the highest-scoring game by a point guard or any player in Indiana Fever history. "I know all the time and the work that I put in, and people believe in me. And more than anything, I believe in myself," Clark stated in an on-court interview following the game. "And you just got to dig your feet in a little bit. When it’s not going your way, nobody cares. Find a way to make it better and find a way to help your team win and make this team better."
Clark's record-breaking performance occurred against a backdrop of intense national discussion concerning her treatment by opponents and the league. This controversy has intensified in recent weeks, particularly following an incident where Phoenix Mercury player Alyssa Thomas struck Clark in the throat during a game in June. Clark later publicly addressed the incident, stating that the WNBA needs to improve player protection and criticizing the league's officiating standards. The discourse surrounding Clark has also entered the political arena, with a group of Republican lawmakers sending a letter to the WNBA leadership advocating for greater accountability and protection for the player against physical altercations.
Despite a recent back injury that had placed her on a strict minutes restriction, Clark played fewer than 30 minutes during her record-setting game. She indicated during her post-game interview that she refused to leave the court in the fourth quarter, despite the restriction, because she felt capable of contributing to a potential win. "I told Steph at halftime, like, I felt really good and I didn’t want to lose this game," Clark said. "There’s no way I was ever coming out of the game in the fourth quarter. It didn’t matter. I would play with one leg."
The Indiana Fever, with this victory, are now tied with the Atlanta Dream for first place in the Eastern Conference at 15-10. The team is scheduled to play the New York Liberty next.