Caitlin Clark is making waves in her rookie WNBA season with the Indiana Fever, recently achieving a milestone that puts her in the company of basketball legends Steph Curry and Michael Jordan.
In Friday’s 98-89 victory over the Phoenix Mercury, the 22-year-old guard delivered an impressive stat line with 29 points, 10 assists, and five rebounds. This performance aligns her with Curry and Jordan, two of the game’s all-time greats, who posted similar numbers during their rookie seasons.
Rookies in NBA/WNBA History to record 29 PTS, 5 REB and 10 AST on 70% TS, multiple times:
— Michael Jordan ‘85 (2x)
— Stephen Curry ‘10 (4x)and now, Caitlin Clark ‘24 (2x).
League-changers. https://t.co/Vl9KfR1efd pic.twitter.com/nWLaHaTMst
— WarriorsMuse (@WarriorsMuse) August 17, 2024
Clark’s shooting prowess is already drawing comparisons to Curry. During her four years with the Iowa Hawkeyes, she made an astounding 548 three-pointers, surpassing Curry’s 414 threes in three seasons with the Davidson Wildcats. While Curry is renowned for his long-range shooting, Clark’s ability to hit from deep has also been a hallmark of her game.
As the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, Clark has maintained her dominance in the professional ranks. So far this season, she’s averaging 17.8 points, 8.3 assists, and 5.8 rebounds over 35.2 minutes in 28 games. These numbers bear a striking resemblance to Curry’s rookie stats in the 2009-10 NBA season, where he averaged 17.5 points, 5.9 assists, and 4.5 rebounds in 36 minutes per game. Jordan, on the other hand, had an extraordinary rookie year in 1984-85, averaging 28.2 points, 5.9 assists, and 6.5 rebounds over 38.3 minutes.
But it’s Caitlin Clark and Curry’s long-range shooting that truly sets them apart. Curry finished his rookie NBA season with 166 made three-pointers, shooting at an impressive 43.7 percent clip. Clark, while still finding her rhythm from deep in the WNBA, has already hit 78 threes at a 32.8 percent rate. Given her track record, it’s only a matter of time before she closes the gap with Curry, who has since solidified his status as one of the greatest shooters in basketball history.
CAITLIN 👏 CLARK 👏 @CaitlinClark22 x @IowaWBB pic.twitter.com/BX08zn7Ne4
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 9, 2024
Clark’s remarkable achievements at such a young age suggest that she’s just getting started. As she continues to break records and set new benchmarks, comparisons to the likes of Curry and Jordan are likely to become more frequent. With her sights set on greatness, the basketball world should expect nothing less from this rising star.
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