New WNBA single-season assist leader. Her name is Caitlin Clark. Clark broke Alyssa Thomas' single-season assist record with nine in the Indiana Fever's 78-74 loss to the Las Vegas Aces at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday.
Two games remain, and the Fever rookie has 321 assists. Clark battled early and was scoreless, but she scored 18 points in the second half on 7-of-18 shooting, including 2-of-8 from 3. She grabbed 8 rebounds and 1 steal.
Clark opened the half poorly (0-of-5 FG, 0-of-2 3PT, 0-of-2 FT) and was fouled early. First-half Clark was fouled three times.
With 5:53 left in the first quarter, Clark missed two free throws, fouled Aces Tiffany Hayes on the other side of the floor, and was called for a technical foul for banging the stanchion in anger.
It became worse when the Fever lost forward Aliyah Boston. She returned to the locker room at 1:22 in the first quarter after an elbow to the face. Boston returned about halfway through the second quarter.
The Fever tied a season low with 13 first-quarter points. Even with shooting woes, Kelsey Mitchell kept the Fever within eight points of the Aces. Mitchell alone scored 19 first-half points to keep the Fever in. He was the only Fever player to score more than five points.
Clark controlled the second. He made a layup at 7:26 of the third. He found his groove again in the third quarter and scored 14 points to pull the Fever within three, 60-57, and entered the fourth quarter down 13 points
Fever were 75-72 with 23.3 seconds left. Boston's 3-point attempt bounced off the rim. Free throws decided. Only 11 of 20 Fever free shots were made.
Mitchell had 20 team-high points and Boston 14. Chelsea Grey had 21 points and Kelsey Plum 18. Double-double A'ja Wilson had 15 points and 17 rebounds.