Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark has made a habit of making history, even if she hopes the WNBA’s record for turnovers by a rookie is lost to the record books.
Clark committed five turnovers in an 89-84 loss to the Mystics on Wednesday, bringing her season high to 127 in 23 games (5.5 turnovers per game).
The Fever superstar passed Nikki McCray (126), who set the rookie record in 1998 in 29 games.
Clark’s 127 turnovers come just before the All-Star/Olympic break, with the team still having 17 games to play.
When the players return, Clark will easily break the all-time record for turnovers set by the Sun’s Alyssa Thomas (137) last season.
Clark is on pace to have 220 turnovers this season.
The Rookie of the Year favorite had a big game Wednesday despite being somewhat comfortable with the ball, recording 29 points, 13 assists, five rebounds, five steals and five blocks; she is the first NBA or WNBA player since the 1973-74 season to accomplish that feat in a game.
Her massive turnover rate probably has something to do with how much the Fever rely on her on offense.
Clark has the WNBA’s 11th-highest usage rate (24.6), by far the highest of any rookie and even higher than stars Breanna Stewart and Brittney Griner.
The WNBA’s biggest superstar has had to endure numerous physical attacks from her opponents, against which she has begun to fight back.
Clark pushed Julie Vanloo in Tuesday’s emphatic loss.
“I honestly feel like I talk to the media more than I do to my own family … which is really sad, in a way,” Clark told reporters on May 25, stressing that his statement was not an exaggeration. “It’s a lot for someone who’s 22. It can be tough sometimes.”
News Source : nypost.com
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