Ever since Caitlin Clark was drafted as the 2024 WNBA overall No. 1 pick, her aim was clear. “I think the physicality is probably going to be one of the biggest things for myself,” said Clark, who averaged 31.6 points and 8.9 assists in her final season with the Iowa Hawkeyes. She’s already five games into the second half of the season with the Indiana Fever, and within a few months, she did what she set out to do.

On August 28th, Caitlin Clark and company took the court at Gainbridge Fieldhouse to face off against the Connecticut Sun for the 4th time this season. Despite three losses in previous encounters with the Sun, the Indiana Fever roared on the court this time. Meanwhile, Clark’s focus remained on the Sun’s defense. For her, enduring the opponent team’s physicality was the biggest win ever.

“Yeah, it hurt a little bit,” she said post-game in a conference. It’s just that this time, she responded with her gameplay. Sun’s defense has not been a distant memory for the Indiana Fever rookie. Last time, in a game versus the Sun, Clark was seen calling for a foul in the second quarter. Within four minutes, Carrington also called for a foul on Clark, but not in seriousness.

As she called the referees, Carrington started to mimic Clark in a flop motion multiple times. Though the Sun emerged victorious with a staggering 89-72 win over the Indiana Fever at Mohegan Sun Arena, Clark left the court with a lesson.

The rookie was more receptive to the physicality and the heat tonight. A silly face was her response to colliding with Alyssa Thomas — who was guarding — and stumbling down to the floor. Then when DiJonai Carrington shushed the crowd, Clark dropped a two-pointer the next second and asked the crowd to grow louder instead.

“I would say it’s up there with one of the most physical games I’ve played so far, but you know you’re gonna get that,” she added. However, this isn’t the only thing she did on Wednesday’s game.

Clark has a different way of responding

Within three minutes of hitting the hardwood, Clark was seen shooting a step-back three over Sun guard DiJonai Carrington. It was her way of responding to Carrington’s mockery. In doing so, she also officially broke Rhyne Howard’s three-point record set during her 2022 campaign.

Now, that record belongs to the WNBA’s game-changer, Caitlin Clark. The rookie, with the help of her shot beyond the arc, tallied 86 three-pointers—one more than Howard—to claim the league’s 3-point rookie record. In the last game against the Atlanta Dream, she tied the record with her 4th three-pointer to claim the right over Howard herself. Now she is three up than the Dream’s guard.

Undoubtedly, Clark has been a force to be reckoned with on the court. But all this is just a part of the bigger picture. As of now, she’s a strong contender for the Rookie of the Year title, ahead of Chicago Sky’s double-double star, Angel Reese. Of course, it won’t be as easy as it may seem, especially when the Sky standout is keeping up the pace with a record in every game.

But what do you think? With a triple-double record, assists in a single day record, and now the three-point record, will Clark be able to get what she wants? Stay tuned to find out!