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USA Today via Reuters

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USA Today via Reuters

By the time Caitlin Clark was vying for the 2024 WNBA draft, she was already an All-Star scoring legend in collegiate basketball. With an impressive total of 3,668 points, the Hawkeyes star surpassed Pete Maravich’s record, for the most points in NCAA history. When asked if she was aware of her historical record, the 22-year-old said, “Not really. When they announced it and everybody screamed, that’s when I knew.”

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Unaware of the milestone, Clark went on to add more points to her team’s total. This happened just a few days before her official announcement to skip her fifth year of eligibility. In April, Clark entered the WNBA, where she was selected by the Indiana Fever as the No. 1 pick. Despite her stellar record, she was initially considered an underperformer. However, no one knew she would soar to new heights in a matter of days!

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‘Action speaks louder than words’ proved Clark

For all those who limited her to a mere effect, Clark had a response, though it wasn’t wordy—it came through her record-breaking performances. Her rookie season, despite a rough start, is now one of the best, with approximately 19 records under her name. But the standout achievement among them is what she’s most known for: three-point shooting from the logo.

On June 8th, against the Washington Mystics, Clark etched her name into history by breaking the all-time record for most three-pointers in a single game. Her seven shots from beyond the arc contributed an impressive 21 points, enough to surpass Crystal Robinson’s 1999 record against the Liberty. But her thirst for greatness remained unquenched.

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USA Today via Reuters

Nearly two months later, on August 28th versus the Connecticut Sun, she once again raised the bar higher. This time, she hit 88 three-pointers across 31 WNBA games, surpassing Rhyne Howard’s record of 85 threes in 34 games, set two years ago. Yet again, even this wasn’t enough for her!

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After Caitlin Clark, Fever’s trajectory is on the upsurge.

On Sunday, September 15th, she amazed everyone by scoring a career-high 35 points against the Dallas Wings. It was a big day for the Indiana Fever as the 110-109 win gave the team 20 victories, the most in the last decade. For the 22-year-old Iowa native, scoring is her major strength, with an impressive 761 points and a 41.1% field goal percentage.

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Even though Clark continues to break records on her way to a potential WNBA championship, she hasn’t matched her NCAA scoring averages yet. While she averaged 26.6 points in her final year of college, she’s at 19.1 PPG in her WNBA debut. Even her FG% is lower than her NCAA average of 47.1%. Still, for Clark, the goal is clear: to bring the WNBA championship title to the Fever.

The best part? She’s already halfway there! The Fever currently stands 6th in the seedings with a secure playoff berth, their first since 2015. Every game has been a sellout, with fans eager to catch a glimpse of Clark in action. However, to win the championship, the Fever must overcome their biggest obstacle: the Las Vegas Aces. So far, Clark and her team have yet to register a single win against the reigning two-time defending champions, with a record of 0-4. However, the question remains, will they be able to dethrone the Aces?

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Written by

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Yashika Dutta

2,141 Articles

Yashika Dutta is a Basketball Writer at EssentiallySports, covering the NCAA, WNBA, and Olympics. A member of the EssentiallySports Journalistic Excellence Program, she specializes in the high-stakes energy of college basketball, with features on the Big Ten Conference and the chaos of March Madness that bring fans right to the hardwood. Her coverage has even caught the attention of UConn coaches and Olympian Rori Dunk, earning her recognition for both accuracy and insight. A former state-level basketball player, Yashika channels her on-court experience into reporting that captures the game’s intensity beyond the box score. With a player’s sense of timing and a journalist’s instinct for storytelling, she shines a light on rising stars like Caitlin Clark and JuJu Watkins, while unpacking the pressures and triumphs that shape college hoops. Whether charting a Big Ten rivalry or chronicling the ethos of March Madness, Yashika connects fans to the heart of the game with energy and authenticity.

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Vineet Nandwana

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