Top 5 Caitlin Clark Moments From Generational 2024 WNBA Season

From being dubbed "The Iowa Sensation" to "the Clark Effect," the Fever #22 has earned a variety of titles that only amplify her growing influence in the basketball world. Whether it's being hailed as "The GOAT," "The Golden Goose for the WNBA," and last but not least "A Generational Talent," if there's one undeniable thread that ties all these accolades together, it's none other than the No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft – Caitlin Clark.

After absolutely crushing college basketball records and becoming the all-time leading scorer, regardless of gender, Clark had announced that she was ready to take the pro league by storm. And, she did rightfully so, breaking records left and right, which eventually earned her the well-deserved Rookie of the Year award with a landslide 66 out of 67 votes. Now, as she takes a breather in her downtime, we revisit the top 5 moments from her incredible rookie season that had fans cheering and jaws dropping!

Among Caitlin Clark's many nicknames, one has been entitled for the impeccable shooting accuracy she possess: "the Sharpshooter." After all, she had already broken the all-time three-pointers made record in a college career by draining 548 threes in the black and gold jersey, surpassing Taylor Robertson's 537 count. Naturally, she brought that same flair on the big stage, quickly becoming the rookie with the most three-pointers by late August. But it was the following week that she was poised to make another mark.

With 98 three-pointers made in just 33 games, the 22-year-old rookie was on the verge of hitting the 100 mark. She wasn't about to let this opportunity slip by. In the third quarter of the LA Sparks game in Indiana, she knocked down her second three-pointer, reaching a century of threes and setting the record for the fastest player to do so — 34 games. She finished the game with four successful three-pointers, adding 24 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds to record her second career triple-double.

However, later in the season, Clark added 20 more three-pointers to her regular season total. This accomplishment pushed her past WNBA veteran Diana Taurasi's mark of 121 threes but left her just seven short of breaking Sabrina Ionescu's single-season record of 128. Nevertheless, it was just another day of Clark mesmerizing the fans with her exceptional game. Before notching her second triple-double in this game, she had already made history earlier in the season.

The Fever's season didn't exactly start as hoped, falling short of the high expectations set for a team featuring No. 1 pick Caitlin Clark. With nine losses in their first eleven games, they struggled to find their rhythm, and the New York Liberty—leading the league at that time—proved to be their biggest nightmare. In the first four weeks alone, the Liberty handed Clark's team three defeats. But as the season progressed, the Fever began to gain momentum, and by July, they found themselves up against the league leaders once more.

This time, though, Clark had no plans to let down the fans cheering for her and the Indianapolis franchise at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Instead, she delivered a performance that etched her name in WNBA's history. Facing the Liberty in their final game of the season series, Clark lit up the court with 19 points, 13 assists, and 12 rebounds. With this, she became the only rookie in WNBA history to reach double digits in three categories in a single game.

Moreover, this triple double made her the only player in Fever's history to do so. With this milestone, Clark joined the ranks of WNBA legends like Candace Parker, Lisa Leslie, and even her frequent critic, Sheryl Swoopes, all of whom have recorded triple-doubles in the league. However, this was just the beginning of the Des Moines native shaking the league with memorable and unforgettable moments.

By mid-July, the Fever had found their rhythm, moving up in the standings, with Caitlin Clark and her teammates now focused on securing a playoff spot. However, the league was about to enter an extended break for the All-Star events, coinciding with Team USA's trip to Paris for the Olympics. To everyone's surprise, though, the rising Fever star was left off the Olympic roster announced by head coach Cheryl Reeve, sparking curiosity and conversation.

She had also notched 24 points and six rebounds in that game, although Fever fell short against Wings. Still, that record-setting performance was a clear statement— one that may have left Team USA's selectors rethinking their decision . Well, that was just a teaser as she went on to break the rookie single-season assist record and even surpassed Alyssa Thomas's all-time assist mark of 316 by season's end.

However, if only one thought this break might be a hurdle in Clark's impressive momentum, she only proved it wrong coming back all loaded in August.

The team came back once again as the league resumed after Team USA's historic Olympic win. By then, the Fever and Caitlin Clark had a singular focus: cement a playoff spot. To achieve this, they needed a winning streak and standout performances. Rising to the challenge, the Fever guard wasted no time making an impact as her team hit the court in August, determined to deliver.

Clark scored a whopping 29 points against Phoenix Mercury in August's first game along with 10 assists. Well, it was just one of Clark's impressive performances that month. The Fever won five out of their six games in August, and Clark tallied massive 144 points with an average of 24 points per game. She even had a 30+ point performance in that spell which came against her arch rival, Angel Reese's Chicago Sky.

In this very month, she had broken the rookie three pointers record of Rhyne Howard by draining her 86th three of the season. This achievement, along with her remarkable performances, solidified her as one of the standout players of the month, leading the Fever when they needed it most. Her exceptional play earned her the Player of the Month title, marking another first in her rookie season as the first-ever rookie to win the honor. Unsurprisingly, she was also named Rookie of the Month for August.

Moreover, Clark's brilliant performances had actively boosted the league's popularity, making her impact evident throughout. But, few predicted that she would make her greatest impact all the way through her final rookie game in playoffs.

By the end of the regular season, nearly everyone—fans and analysts, had come to recognize the phenomenon that Caitlin Clark had brought to the pro stage. And why not? The league's viewership doubled from the previous year and merchandise sales were soaring. In fact, Clark's final regular season game set an attendance record of 20,711 at the matchup against the Washington Mystics, marking the largest crowd ever for a WNBA game. However, Clark still had kept the biggest pull for the playoffs.

The Fever made their return to the playoffs for the first time in eight years, traveling to Connecticut to face the Suns in the first round. Unfortunately, they dropped the first game of the three-game series, making the next matchup a must-win. Another loss at Mohegan Sun Arena would bring an end to Clark's remarkable rookie season. As a result, fans who couldn't make the trip, were glued to their TV screens. And guess, what? It set another record, courtesy "the Clark effect".

Although the Sun eliminated the Fever in Game 2 of the series, the game drew unprecedented ESPN viewership. ESPN reported that Game 2 attracted a remarkable 2.5 million viewers, setting a new record for the most-watched WNBA game ever broadcast exclusively on cable. The game even peaked at 3.4 million viewers, making it especially noteworthy as it took place on a Wednesday night.

Now, with her record-breaking rookie season now behind her, Caitlin Clark is taking complete advantage of some well-deserved downtime, enjoying quality moments with her closest friends and family. Meanwhile, which moment stands out to you the most?