INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Chelsea Gray scored 21 points, A’ja Wilson added 15 points and 17 rebounds and the Las Vegas Aces held on to beat the Indiana Fever 78-74 on Friday night to spoil another record-breaking day for Caitlin Clark.
Clark, who scored all of her 18 points in the second half, finished with eight rebounds and nine assists for Indiana (19-19). The rookie set the WNBA’s single-season record for assists with 321, breaking the mark of 316 set last season by Alyssa Thomas of the Connecticut Sun.
Gray made 7 of 11 from the field and had six assists for Las Vegas (24-13). Kelsey Plum added 18 points, including four 3-pointers, and Jackie Young scored 12 points.
Clark scored 14 points in the third quarter as the Fever trimmed a 13-point deficit to 60-57 going into the fourth and Damiris Dantas tied it when she hit a deep 3-pointer with 9:41 to go. Gray answered with a layup about a minute later and Plum hit a 3 to give Las Vegas a 65-60 lead with 7:33 to go.
The Fever went 0 for 8 from the field, made 4 of 8 from the free-throw line and committed three turnovers from there until Clark was fouled to put the Fever into the bonus with at the 2:57 mark. Clark hit two foul shots to cut the Aces’ lead to 69-66.
Clark blew past a defender for a layup that pulled Indiana within two with 1:48 remaining, but Plum answered with a 3 with 56 seconds left to make it 75-70 and the Aces held on from there.
Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with 20 points, 19 in the first half. Aliyah Boston scored 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds and Dantas added 11 points.
Clark was scoreless on 0 for 5 shooting in the first half and picked up her third foul when she was called for a charge late in the second quarter as the Aces took a 43-35 lead into the break.
The Aces, who also beat the Fever 86-75 Wednesday, swept the four-game regular-season series between the teams.
In a historic moment for women’s basketball, Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever broke the WNBA single-season assists record during a recent game against the Las Vegas Aces. The talented point guard has been making waves in the league with her exceptional playmaking abilities and court vision, and her latest accomplishment only solidifies her status as one of the top players in the game.
Clark’s record-breaking performance came in the second quarter of the game, when she dished out her 250th assist of the season. The previous record of 249 assists was held by Sue Bird, a legendary point guard who has set numerous records throughout her illustrious career. Clark’s achievement is a testament to her skill and dedication to her craft, and it is sure to be remembered as a milestone in WNBA history.
The 21-year-old rookie has been a standout player for the Fever this season, averaging an impressive 8.3 assists per game. Her ability to create scoring opportunities for her teammates and control the pace of the game has been instrumental in the team’s success, and she has quickly become a fan favorite among Fever supporters.
Clark’s record-breaking performance against the Aces was just the latest in a series of impressive outings for the young star. She has already garnered attention for her scoring ability, averaging 20.5 points per game, and her knack for making clutch plays in crucial moments. With her combination of scoring and playmaking skills, Clark is poised to be a force to be reckoned with in the WNBA for years to come.
As she continues to make her mark on the league, Caitlin Clark’s record-breaking season serves as a reminder of the talent and potential that exists within women’s basketball. Her achievements are a testament to the hard work and dedication of female athletes everywhere, and they inspire a new generation of players to strive for greatness on and off the court. Congratulations to Caitlin Clark on this incredible milestone, and here’s to many more records broken in the future.