Fever rookie Caitlin Clark breaks WNBA assists record, draws message from Chris Paul

After a rough start to the 2024 season, the Indiana Fever have bounced back and secured a spot in the 2024 WNBA playoffs. One of the biggest forces propelling the Fever is rookie Caitlin Clark. Clark made WNBA history on Friday by breaking the league’s single-season assists record in the Fever’s 78-74 loss to the Las Vegas Aces. As a result, Clark has caught the attention of NBA veteran and San Antonio Spurs point guard Chris Paul.

Paul got creative in congratulating Clark on his incredible achievement.

“Assisting is our job. Congrats @CaitlinClark22 on breaking the @WNBA single-season assists record! @StateFarm,” Paul wrote on X (formerly Twitter) alongside a StateFarm graphic of Clark:

Caitlin Clark must be honored to receive compliments from a seasoned professional player like Chris Paul. Paul is entering his 20th year in the league. He is looking to take on a new role with the Spurs, helping the young team develop and climb the Western Conference standings.

Paul will likely be inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame at the end of her career, and Clark wants to pursue similar greatness in the WNBA.

In 38 games in 2024, Clark is averaging 19.1 points, 8.4 assists and 5.8 rebounds per game. Clark’s leadership has secured the Fever a playoff berth and she is the favorite to win Rookie of the Year. But Clark has taken matters into her own hands and stressed that winning basketball games is the priority.

“Anyone can write this, but our goal is to win basketball games,” Clark said after a 31-point, 12-assist performance in the Fever’s Aug. 30 win over the Chicago Sky, according to Fever Beat writer Matthew Byrne. “It’s as simple as that … it was the same story for us when we were in college. If you’re playing basketball for individual accolades, no matter what level you’re at, you’re going about it the wrong way.”

It will be exciting to continue watching Clark grow amid a promising rookie season.

Christopher Smith is a sportswriter who primarily covers the Chicago Sky, NBA, NCAA basketball, and NFL for ClutchPoints. Originally from Aurora, Illinois, he attended Creighton University and has written for Last Word on Sports and FanSided.