Caitlin Clark’s reaction to historic 45-point game should scare WNBA rivals originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Caitlin Clark made WNBA history Friday night. Her reaction afterward may have been even more concerning for the rest of the league.
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Clark delivered one of the greatest individual performances the WNBA has ever seen, scoring a franchise-record 45 points and adding 10 assists in the Indiana Fever’s thrilling 110-107 victory over the Seattle Storm at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The former No. 1 overall pick became the first player in WNBA history to finish a game with at least 40 points and 10 assists. She accomplished the feat in only 29 minutes while helping Indiana survive a frantic finish against Seattle.
Clark supplied the biggest shot of the night with 38.1 seconds remaining. Her deep 3-pointer broke a 102-102 tie and gave the Fever a lead they would not relinquish.
It was a defining performance for Clark, but she was not particularly interested in celebrating the record afterward.
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“I mean, it’s cool. I don’t really care,” Clark said. “I know what I’m capable of, and I know what this team is capable of.”
Caitlin Clark remains focused on Fever’s championship goal
Clark’s response was not meant to diminish the significance of her accomplishment. It showed how much higher she believes the Fever can climb.
“It’s my job to help us win and be the best team in the WNBA, and I don’t think we’re there yet,” Clark said. “So it’s my responsibility to help us get there.”
That mindset should concern every championship contender. Clark has already proven she can take over a game as a scorer or passer. On Friday, she did both at a level no player in league history had previously reached.
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The Fever star sensed before tipoff that she was headed for a memorable night.
“Some nights, like, you know you have it — even before the ball tips,” Clark said. “I felt like it was going to be one of those for me.”
Clark said players have to believe they are capable of producing those performances and visualize them before they happen. Against Seattle, everything she envisioned seemed to become reality.
MORE: Caitlin Clark refused to let minutes limit end historic night early
Clark believes she has another level to reach
The most intimidating part of Clark’s postgame comments came when she evaluated her own performance.
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“I still feel like I can play better,” Clark said.
Clark has worked to rediscover her rhythm after returning from injury and navigating a minutes restriction. She acknowledged that coming back after an extended absence is difficult, but her confidence in the work she has completed never disappeared.
Her performance against Seattle offered convincing evidence that she is finding her groove again. A 45-point, 10-assist game would represent a career-defining peak for most players. Clark treated it as another step toward becoming the player she knows she can be and turning Indiana into the WNBA’s best team.
The Fever will not have much time to celebrate. They return to the court Saturday evening for a difficult matchup against the New York Liberty. Clark has already made history. If she is correct that she can play even better, her next performance could be just as dangerous.
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