Caitlin Clark Secures First Triple-Double as WNBA Rookie

Caitlin Clark (No. 22, guard) of the Indiana Fever became the first WNBA rookie to secure a triple-double on Saturday, July 6, 2024, against the New York Liberty at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo: Ryan May | 800 Meter Sports Photography)

INDIANAPOLIS — It was only a matter of time before Caitlin Clark achieved the inevitable as a thriving rookie guard for the Indiana Fever.

After six close calls in her young WNBA career, Clark became the first rookie to achieve the triple-double en route to the Fever defeating the New York Liberty, 83-78, on Saturday afternoon at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Going into Saturday’s game, Clark’s rising confidence coincided with her team’s recent performances. Adjusting to the grittier, faster pace of the WNBA, Clark has not only carried over her scoring prowess from beyond the arc, but as a playmaker on the court.

In the first quarter, Clark tallied 11 points with three deep treys, her patented shot, and a layup to boot. Compared to her first three games against the Liberty, the Des Moines, Iowa, native demonstrated her thriving talents on the WNBA level.

As prevalent in recent games, Clark demonstrated her playmaking abilities, mainly with her dimes to Aliyah Boston and NaLyssa Smith. With 5:38 left in the first half, Clark already achieved her sixth double-double of the year and fourth consecutive in her hot streak.

Still, there was plenty of basketball to be had in the first half at the Fieldhouse.

Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, Leonie Fiebich, Kayla Thornton and Jonquel Jones were on the attack for New York as Clark, Boston, Smith, Kelsey Mitchell and Damiris Dantas responded for Indiana.

Mitchell opened the second half with a layup just 19 seconds into the third quarter. Courtney Vandersloot, Stewart and Laney-Hamilton catalyzed the Liberty against Kaite Lou Samuelson‘s three-pointer and jumper before New York’s 6-0 run.

Meanwhile, Clark doled out dimes to Smith and Boston before the Liberty went on a 7-0 run, somewhat tempered by Mitchell’s 24’ three-pointer and Boston’s trademark layup to make it a 62-55 going into the fourth quarter.

History was made with 7:07 left in the fourth quarter when Clark made her 10th defensive rebound of the game. It was a critical rebound with the Fever tailing the Liberty, 66-57, and the fans applauded the Iowa Hawkeye alum as she clutched for the ball.

Then, it was back to work on the hardwood court as Clark dished the ball to Lexie Hull, the latter drawing a foul on Thornton. Once Hull banked both free throws, an already back and forth matchup against the two Eastern Conference teams heightened in the final 7:04 of the game.

For the final 6:03 of the matchup, the Fever never trailed the Liberty by double digits. A technical foul on Ionescu resulted in Clark’s successful free throw shot to make it a 71-62 score.

Jones and Laney-Hamilton’s baskets put New York ahead of Indiana, 75-68, with 4:21 remaining. Momentum shifted over to Indiana’s side with Fever’s total team effort on both ends of the floor.

An 11-0 run inside the final 3:59, starting off with Smith’s free throw, Clark’s jumper and free throw, Mitchell’s game-tying trey and layups by Boston and Hull put Indiana ahead of New York, 79-75.

New York was not out of it when Ionescu, thanks to Stewart’s sixth assist of the game, drained a deep logo three to make it a 79-78 score with 69 seconds left.

Critical shots were missed in the final moments of the game for the Liberty as the Fever tallied their ninth win of the year, avoiding the season sweep from New York.

After the game, naturally, the focus was on Clark’s latest achievement as she makes her case for Rookie of the Year honors. When Clark took to the podium after the game, she reflected on the moment when it all sunk in for her.

Caitlin Clark (No. 22, guard) credited her Indiana Fever teammates not only for her first triple-double of her WNBA career, but for executing in a winning performance against the New York Liberty. (Photo: Ryan May | 800 Meter Sports Photography)

“Honestly, I wasn’t, like, too aware, but I think everybody was a little confused as to why they were going so nuts over a rebound,” Clark said. “They can do that every time, I guess, but it was a little different.”

Much like her years at Iowa, Clark wanted the spotlight on her teammates than on herself. Even with her historical feat, she praised her teammates’ play and the focus on winning a critical matchup against New York.

“Well, I was trying to get the crowd to be quiet because I think it was [Lexie Hull] who was shooting a free throw,” Clark said. “And I was like, I appreciate it, but just trying to get them to be quiet.

“It’s really cool. My teammates have been finishing the ball really, really at a high rate. My assist numbers, that’s because of them. Just finding them in positions to be successful, whether it’s AB, whether it’s Lys, we’ve done a good job of that. I guess it’s cool.”

In the Fever’s past 10 games, they have six wins and four losses. Slowly but surely, the Fever’s hard work and dedication to elevating their on-court chemistry is paying off, something not lost upon Clark when she reflected on what has evolved thus far in the year.

“I feel like we’re definitely playing good basketball,” she observed. “I feel like we’re definitely finding some confidence in what we’re being able to do out there on the court. We’re playing together better.

“But I think the biggest difference for us has been when teams make runs, we don’t crumble. I think their biggest lead was 11 there in the third. And we just found a way to stay resilient and kind of close the gap or that might have even been in the fourth quarter.”

For a rookie who has turned the narrative over to being a team player and being one of the integral catalysts for the Fever, Clark spoke with genuine reverence for her teammates, believing in each other and head coach Christie Sides.

“We always believe we are in the game,” Clark shared. “And for us, I think that’s where we’ve kinda been able to change our mindset and really just stay together and attack it together. And when we got down six with three minutes to play, that’s nothing for us.

“Like, that’s two possessions, and that’s exactly what it was, the next two possessions after that time out. And then Kelsey comes down and hits three, and the game’s tied up just like that. And we really don’t look back after we got it tied. So, just proud of our group for our our resiliency.”

Perhaps the biggest intangible for Clark’s triple-double, a feat she accomplished 17 times in her collegiate career, was not the milestone itself. Mainly, she was humbled and reflected more on the team’s victory than herself.

“Honestly, I’m just happy we won,” Clark said as Boston expressed her pride in her achievement. “I take a lot of pride in being able to do a lot of different things for this team. I think we’re really good when I can get the ball off the glass and just go in transition and find my teammates and set them up.

“13 assists, that means my teammates made 13 shots off my passes. But that goes to them. I don’t know what to say. I think it’s great.”

The Rundown

Playoff Picture

As a result of defeating New York Liberty (17-4), who rank first in the WNBA standings, the Indiana Fever (9-13) gain a half game advantage over the Atlanta Dream, moving up to seventh in the league standings.

Notably, the Dallas Wings (5-17), who played on Sunday against the Las Vegas Aces (13-7), the Wings fell four full games behind the eighth place Chicago Sky (8-12).

New York Liberty: By the Numbers

Indiana Fever: By the Numbers

Caitlin Clark (No. 22, guard) of the Indiana Fever nabs one of her 12 rebounds en route to a historic triple-double against the New York Liberty at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Saturday, July 6, 2024. (Photo: Ryan May | 800 Meter Sports Photography)

Coming Up Next

Indiana will remain at home at Gainbridge Fieldhouse to take on the Ariel Atkins and the Washington Mystics on Wednesday, July 10, at noon ET. In the teams’ two most recent meetings, the Fever defeated the Mystics, 85-83, on June 7, and 88-81, on June 19. Mainly, on June 7, Clark tallied 30 points, eight boards and six assists.