Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark has been on a remarkable run in her first season of professional basketball. She has shattered numerous records by consistently delivering breathtaking performances. The former Iowa superstar has quickly become the leading contender for the Rookie of the Year award.
Hoops fans have been in awe of Clark's stats this season. Former NBA player Rashad McCants couldn’t contain his admiration for the rookie after Indiana highlighted her jaw-dropping numbers as a guard this year on X/Twitter.
Among all the guards in the league this season, Clark ranks first in assists, rebounds, blocks and points created. The rookie ranks fifth in the league in true shooting percentage and seventh in points and steals.
She also leads the WNBA in the longest average distance of made 3-pointers at 28 feet and 1.1 inches.
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After looking at the numbers, McCants slammed the rookie's naysayers:
"This no longer says Rookies!!!!!! All Guards in the League!! She was snubbed. Then shoved lol. Showing no love. @GilsArenaShow stat man stat man we was right about her!!!" McCants said in a tweet.
Caitlin Clark's season in a nutshell
Caitlin Clark earned the AP Player of the Week Award after delivering a stellar performance in the first week following the 2024 Paris Olympics break. Clark averaged 26 points, 9.2 assists, and five rebounds per game, leading the Fever to consecutive wins in the two games since the season resumed.
She has averaged 17.8 ppg and 5.8 RPG this season while shooting 41.2% from the field, including 32.8% from 3-point range. She also leads the league in assists with 8.3 apg.
Clark's next challenge is against the top-ranked Western Conference team, Minnesota Lynx on Saturday. The game will be emotional for Clark, as her childhood inspiration Maya Moore will be honored by the Lynx with a jersey retirement ceremony at Target Center:
"For me as a little kid. It’s a very full-circle moment for myself," Clark said after a practice session on Tuesday when asked about Moore's jersey retirement.
"Like, I’ve been able to live out my dream of playing in the WNBA. Being in the arena when they’re retiring her [Moore] jersey, somebody that’s done so much for this league, done so much for society and the world. She’s a great individual, great person," she added.
Clark will play against the Lynx for the second time this season. In their previous encounter, the rookie scored 17 points and dished out six assists as the Fever registered an 81-74 win on the road.