Caitlin Clark looks well-rested after the WNBA's Olympic break.
The Fever phenom posted a 29-point, 10-assist double-double in her first game back, then broke the WNBA rookie record for most assists in a single season in the very next game.
It took 28 games for Clark to break Ticha Penicheiro's record, set in 1998. Penicheiro played 30 games for the now-defunct Sacramento Monarchs that year.
Clark dished her record-breaking dime to Lexie Hull in the second quarter of Indiana's 92-75 win Sunday against the Seattle Storm — probably.
Caitlin Clark finds Lexie Hull to break the record for most assists in a season by a rookie! 🤩 https://t.co/7pXGQKcMFT pic.twitter.com/buFjPkAlhg
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) August 18, 2024
The record marks yet another accomplishment for the star rookie, who already broke the WNBA record for most assists in a game. But the latest mark comes with some confusion.
The Sporting News details Clark's record-breaking mark and the confusion around it — and also explains how Clark can break the overall single-season assists record.
MORE: How many points did Caitlin Clark score Sunday vs. Storm?
Caitlin Clark breaks Ticha Penicheiro's WNBA rookie assist record
Clark broke the WNBA rookie assist record in Sunday's game, undoubtedly. But did she do it on her second-quarter pass to Hull, her 225th in the season? Or did it come on her 226th assist?
Penicheiro, who made her WNBA debut in 1998 with the Monarchs, held the previous record. That mark is listed as 224 on some reputable sites (including the WNBA website) — but as 225 on others (including ESPN). Even the WNBA has had social media posts Sunday listing both 224 and 225 as the record.
So: Which is correct?
The WNBA's celebratory post for Clark states Penicheiro's record as 224, though the league hasn't released an official statement on the confusion.
This thread on X from WNBA statistics site Across the Timeline details the confusion regarding Penicheiro's record.
If you're wondering why some stats site say 224 and some say 225, well, the WNBA has not done a good job of making it clear.https://t.co/1C34KoWmZ9 https://t.co/PJeGxjsPxJ pic.twitter.com/idFyPEP5l6
— Across the Timeline (@WBBTimeline) August 18, 2024
There may not be a neat and tidy solution to this mystery. Regardless, Clark's record is still climbing, as she sits at 232 following the Fever's win against the Storm.
MORE: Who is the WNBA Rookie of the Year: Caitlin Clark or Angel Reese?
How Caitlin Clark can break WNBA single-season assist record
Clark is chasing history with 12 games remaining in the regular season. The Fever rookie sits at 232 assists, and she needs 84 assists to tie the record for most assists in a single season — or 7.0 assists per game. She has averaged a WNBA-leading 8.3 assists per game so far in her rookie season.
Alyssa Thomas set the overall record with 316 during the 2023 season, which was the first year the WNBA expanded its schedule to 40 games. The league began with 28 games in 1997 and has increased its schedule footprint in the years since then.
Most assists in WNBA single season
| Rank | Player | Assists | Year |
| 1 | Alyssa Thomas | 316 | 2023 |
| 2 | Courtney Vandersloot | 314 | 2023 |
| 3 | Courtney Vandersloot | 300 | 2019 |
| 4 | Chelsea Gray | 291 | 2023 |
| 5 | Courtney Vandersloot | 275 | 2021 |
| 6 | Courtney Vandersloot | 258 | 2018 |
| 7 | Courtney Williams | 251 | 2023 |
| 8 | Natasha Cloud | 239 | 2022 |
| 9 | Ticha Penicheiro | 236 | 2000 |
| T10 | Natasha Cloud | 229 | 2023 |
| T10 | Ticha Penicheiro | 229 | 2003 |