Already the finest passer in the WNBA, Caitlin Clark is dishing out assists at a never-before-seen rate.

Fever repel a Mercury rally while Clark lights up the score with his sixth straight double-double. Caitlin Clark is creating her own private paradise at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, located in the vibrant center of Indianapolis. The Indiana Fevers defeated the inexperienced Phoenix Mercury 95-86 on Friday night, but the real highlight was Steve Clark’s incredible passing mastery. Clark recorded her fifth straight double-double late in the third quarter, with the Fever ahead by as many as 31 points. She finished with 20 points, 13 assists, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks, and, yes, six turnovers—after all, nobody is flawless, right?

Clark downplayed her own talent with a humility that nearly made you forget she was the first overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. “They are obviously short on bodies, so the more we can push the pace, the better,” Clark remarked. Clark downplayed her own talent with a humility that nearly made you forget she was the first overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. “They are obviously short on bodies, so the more we can push the pace, the better,” Clark remarked.

Now let’s discuss that pace. In the first seven minutes of play, Clark recorded seven of her 13 assists. The Mercury was out of breath after the Fever’s first-half outburst, trailing by 20 points at the half and facing a 31-point deficit at the end of the third quarter. Indiana was going fast. That is, what we believed. With little over five minutes remaining, the Mercury, who were without their superstar Diana Taurasi and several other important players, went on a ferocious 17-0 run that reduced the score to single digits. Kahleah Copper scored a game-high 36 points and was unstoppable.

Clark finishes the deal with a clutch play. However, Indiana had a secret weapon in Clark, who stopped Phoenix’s momentum with a crucial three-pointer. With a minute and a half remaining, that assist—Clark’s 13th of the game—tied a franchise record and was the final straw, cutting the advantage back to nine. Mitchell finished the game with 28 points, and she dominated the paint and the boards along with double-doubles from Aliyah Boston and NaLyssa Smith. The Fever displayed a collective effort that highlighted their tenacity and commitment as they outscored the Mercury 60-28 in the paint and outrebounded them 42-30.

The Fever, who are now 10-14, are eager to showcase their three All-Stars—Clark, Boston, and Mitchell—against the top players on the U.S. women’s national team during the All-Star break. The Mercury, who are currently 12-11, will undoubtedly have to deal with Clark’s game-changing ability when they play again, even as they tend to their wounds and hope for a stronger team after the break. With 7.6 assists per game on average, second only to Alyssa Thomas of Connecticut, Caitlin Clark is dishing out assists at a rate that seems, well, unheard of. And judging from Friday night, she’s only just getting started.