Ever since Caitlin Clark entered the WNBA in 2024, she has been breaking records left and right—particularly with her playmaking ability.
After leading the WNBA in assists in her rookie season, Clark is once again one of the most effective playmakers in the WNBA. Alyssa Thomas is the only player who can match her 8.3 assists per game. But Clark is doing much more than just dishing out passes. She is also scoring at a high level and ranks third in points per game with 22.1. Only A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Mitchell average more points.
If Clark keeps up those averages, she could add another WNBA first to her resume. No player who led the league in assists in the past 29 seasons has also finished in the top three in points per game.
Two players have come close, but Clark could be the first
Over the last 29 seasons, twelve different players have led the WNBA in assists per game: Alyssa Thomas, Clark, Courtney Vandersloot, Natasha Cloud, Sue Bird, Candace Parker, Danielle Robinson, Lindsay Whalen, Ticha Penicheiro, Becky Hammon, Nikki Teasley, and Teresa Weatherspoon. Vandersloot and Penicheiro share the record for most assist-leader titles with seven each.
Out of that group, two players have come close to leading the league in assists per game and finishing third in points per game. Candace Parker finished fourth in points per game with 19.4 in 2015, and Becky Hammon finished fifth in 2007 with 18.8 points per game. Clark’s seventh-place finish in 2024 is the next closest.
Clark also has a chance to become the first assist leader to average at least 20 points per game. So far, only four players have even cracked the 15-point mark along with their league-leading assists: Thomas, Clark, Parker, and Hammon. Vandersloot is the only one in the group who averaged a double-double with 10 assists and 13.6 points per game in 2020.
The only player who could realistically get between Clark and this historic first is Thomas, who could also finish first in assists per game.
Clark is having a phenomenal season
Clark’s start to the season was defined by concerns about her defense, inefficient shooting performances, and quick technical fouls. Those concerns cooled off quickly, and while Clark has made some costly late-game mistakes lately, she is overall having a great season—especially considering how much time and development she missed last season.
She is averaging career highs in points, field-goal percentage, and 3-point percentage alongside a career low in turnovers per game while leading the Fever to a third consecutive playoff appearance. This time, she will actually get to compete in the postseason as well.
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