The Indiana Fever will take the court for their final regular-season home game of a franchise-changing campaign Sunday when they host the Dallas Wings.
Though the Fever are coming off a 78-74 loss to the two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces on Friday, rookie Caitlin Clark made more history by setting the WNBA single-season record for assists by passing Alyssa Thomas’s mark of 316. Clark set the rookie assist record in August.
“I think it definitely speaks to the whole entire year and how historic it has been for this league, and how great basketball has been for the league, and we’re not even to the playoffs yet,” Clark said.
“I think that’s what is so fun about it, is (that) you’re going to continue to see records be taken down, but I also think (it’s) really good basketball, and that’s why it’s been so fun to watch.”
Clark has dished out five or more assists in 25 straight games, tied for the second-longest streak in league history, per ESPN.
She’s averaging 8.4 assists per game along with 19.1 points and 5.8 rebounds for Indiana, which has clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 2016.
The Fever (19-19) are looking to snap a two-game skid when it takes on the Wings (9-29), who have the league’s second-worst record after their 83-81 home loss to the Seattle Storm on Friday.
For Dallas, Sunday’s game is about putting an end to a 15-game road losing streak. The Wings have won just twice away from home, the last on May 26 with an 84-83 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks.
Arike Ogunbowale has been a bright spot for Dallas during an otherwise disappointing season, becoming the franchise’s all-time leading scorer during Thursday’s 99-67 loss to the New York Liberty.
The sixth-year pro had 11 points to push past Deanna Nolan, who scored 3,971 points in her Dallas career.
“Just to get that record is definitely really cool,” Ogunbowale said. “It’s been a tough season, but this is definitely something I’ll look back on and be like, ‘I was able to do that with my team.'”
Ogunbowale is averaging 22.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game for the Wings, who have lost seven straight.
Dallas and Indiana have split their first two meetings this season. The Wings earned a 101-93 home win on July 17, while Indiana notched a 100-93 road victory Sept. 1.
–Field Level Media
