Caitlin Clark dishes secret sauce behind elite playmaking skills for Fever: "I’m not a very creative person"

Caitlin Clark is leading the WNBA in assists, averaging 8.4 dimes per game this season. She already owns several records in this category before her rookie season has ended. Many fans and observers have already said she is the best passer in league history.

Clark’s passing has taken as much limelight as her long-range bombs from 28 feet. In the Indiana Fever’s first play against the Minnesota Lynx on Friday, she drilled a pass to Aliyah Boston into the heart of Minnesota’s defense. Clark gave it to the Fever center right where she needed it for the first two points of the game.

After the matchup, this is what Caitlin Clark had to say when asked by a reporter about her passing skills:

“I’ve always said I’m not a very creative person. But I feel like I’m creative on the basketball court, as about the only time you’ll see it. … I don’t know, I like to have fun, make exciting plays.”

Many of the former Iowa star’s passes have been featured in highlight reels. Her behind-the-back pass to Aliyah Boston late against the LA Sparks on Wednesday went viral. The Fever have been humming partly because the players have more zip to their movements, knowing their point guard will give them the ball.

Clark finished with eight assists in Indiana’s 99-88 loss to the Lynx. She might have gotten more had her teammates shot better. NaLyssa Smith had a couple of close-range shots off a Clark pass that she couldn’t convert.

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Caitlin Clark has broken Ticha Penicheiro’s rookie assist records

In 1998, Ticha Penicheiro averaged 7.5 assists per game and finished with 225, both records for a rookie. Caitlin Clark’s 8.4 APG and 294 dimes (and counting) moved her past the legendary point guard in both categories.

Penicheiro sent a message to Clark when the Fever rookie dished her 226th assist of the season against the Seattle Storm on Aug. 18.

“Super proud of you. I know the work that you put in," Penicheiro said. "A lot of people always talked about your shooting—I was always mesmerized by your passing, your court vision, and how you make your teammates better. So this record is in great hands.”

Ticha Penicheiro played 30 games to compile her totals. Meanwhile, Caitlin Clark broke it in her 28th game of the season.

The Indiana Fever have five more regular-season games left. Clark, already with 294 assists, might hit somewhere around 325 before the postseason starts. If she gets there, she will end up with 100 more assists than Penicheiro in her rookie season.