Caitlin Clark triple-double: Fever star becomes first WNBA rookie to record triple-double

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Caitlin Clark
(Grace Smith/USA TODAY NETWORK)

Caitlin Clark has accomplished plenty since joining the WNBA ranks in April. The league's leading candidate for Rookie of the Year entered play Saturday averaging 16 points, 5.7 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game during her first professional season.

Clark improved upon most of those numbers Saturday while doing something no WNBA rookie before has achieved: She logged a triple-double.

Here's what to know about Clark's history-making performance in the Fever vs. New York Liberty game.

MORE: How Napheesa Collier's injury impacts Caitlin Clark's Olympic chances

Caitlin Clark triple-double

Clark logged a triple-double in the Indiana Fever's 83-78 win over the New York Liberty. Clark got off to a hot start shooting, scoring 11 of her 19 points in the first quarter and continued to show out as a high-end passer throughout the game with 13 assists.

Entering the fourth quarter, she needed just three rebounds to reach a triple-double. She did so by grabbing a wide-open board with just over seven minutes remaining in regulation.

Clark's 19-point, 12-rebound and 13-assist triple-double was the first by a rookie in WNBA history. It also marked the first triple-double in the Fever's history, which dates back to 2000.

MORE: Full highlights, stats from Caitlin Clark's performance vs. Liberty

Triple-doubles in WNBA history

Triple-doubles have become a bit more common in the WNBA's recent history, but they still aren't something that the league has seen a lot.

There have been 33 total triple-doubles in WNBA history. Sheryl Swoopes recorded the first during the 1999 season while Caitlin Clark logged the most recent triple-double on July 6, 2024.

Below is a full list of the triple-doubles recorded during the WNBA's history.

PlayerDateTeamPointsReboundsAssists
Caitlin ClarkJuly 6, 2024Indiana Fever191213
Alyssa ThomasJuly 4, 2024Connecticut Sun131014
Layshia ClarendonMay 15, 2024Los Angeles Sparks111010
Alyssa ThomasMay 14, 2024Connecticut Sun131013
Courtney WilliamsSept. 10, 2023Chicago Sky231613
Sug SuttonSept. 8, 2023Phoenix Mercury181111
Alyssa ThomasSept. 5, 2023Connecticut Sun271214
Chelsea GrayAug. 17, 2023Las Vegas Aces221111
Natasha HowardAug. 4, 2023Dallas Wings281211
Alyssa ThomasAug. 1, 2023Connecticut Sun212012
Alyssa ThomasJuly 30, 2023Connecticut Sun171411
Satou SaballyJuly 28, 2023Dallas Wings141110
Sabrina IonescuJuly 25, 2023New York Liberty121212
Courtney WilliamsJune 30, 2023Chicago Sky121113
Alyssa ThomasJune 27, 2023Connecticut Sun111010
Alyssa ThomasJune 25, 2023Connecticut Sun141112
Alyssa ThomasJune 20, 2023Connecticut Sun131512
Alyssa ThomasAug. 2, 2022Connecticut Sun101210
Alyssa ThomasJuly 22, 2022Connecticut Sun151012
Sabrina IonescuJuly 6, 2022New York Liberty311310
Moriah JeffersonJune 28, 2022Minnesota Lynx131010
Candace ParkerJune 23, 2022Chicago Sky101410
Sabrina IonescuJune 12, 2022New York Liberty271312
Candace ParkerMay 22, 2022Chicago Sky161310
Sabrina IonescuMay 18, 2021New York Liberty261012
Chelsea GrayJuly 7, 2019Los Angeles Sparks131013
Courtney VanderslootJuly 20, 2018Chicago Sky131015
Candace ParkerJuly 28, 2017Los Angeles Sparks111711
Temeka JohnsonJuly 24, 2014Seattle Storm131011
Deanna NolanMay 21, 2005Detroit Shock111011
Lisa LeslieSept. 9, 2004Los Angeles Sparks29153
Margo DydekJune 7, 2001Utah Starzz12113
Sheryl SwoopesJuly 27, 1999Houston Comets141510

MORE: Why ESPN analyst has Angel Reese over Caitlin Clark in Rookie of the Year race

Most triple-doubles in WNBA history

Alyssa Thomas is the WNBA's all-time leader in triple-doubles, and it isn't particularly close. The Connecticut Sun star has 10 of the league's 33 all-time triple-doubles; no other player has more than four, and just five have multiple triple-doubles to their names.

PlayerTriple-doubles
Alyssa Thomas10
Sabrina Ionescu4
Candace Parker3
Chelsea Gray2
Courtney Williams2

Clark figures to eventually log a second triple-double during her career and join the exclusive list above.

For now, she'll have to settle for becoming the first rookie to log one and the first member of the Indiana Fever to do so.

Author(s)
Jacob Camenker Photo

Jacob Camenker is a senior content producer at The Sporting News.