Caitlin Clark aggressively punched the air as she finally found her shot again. After missing three shots from downtown in the first half against the Dallas Wings, Clark looked wobbly with just 8 points. However, in the second half she hit two consecutive three-pointers, including one over Paige Bueckers, to finally get her motor running. And the third quarter ended with the point guard breaking a record that caught the attention of LeBron James.
Caitlin Clark finished with 20 points, the same total as each of her previous two WNBA season openers. She shot 7 of 18 from the field and 2 of 9 from 3-point range, with 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 personal fouls and 5 turnovers. In the process, Clark completed 1000 points in just 34 games, the same as Hall Of Famer Tamika Catchings. She also became the fastest player to complete 1000+ points, 250+ assists and 250+ rebounds, surpassing Diana Taurasi’s previous mark of 62 games. LeBron James immediately congratulated Clark on this achievement.
“Congrats @CaitlinClark,” James wrote on his instagram stories with nine clapping emojis. The point guard acknowledged the message by reposting the story.
Clark also became the fastest guard to surpass 1000 points in the WNBA. And what a way to arrive at this mark. At the end of the third quarter, Clark picked up the ball on the wing and ran at Odyssey Sims. A behind-the-back along with a turn to lay it in got Clark to that mark.
Even on a day where the game ended on a 107-104, this record was a silver lining for Clark and the Fever. And the Lakers star deserves some credit for this as well, as it was him that reached out to Clark when she was struggling mentally and physically last year.
“I think LeBron James has been there to support me more than anything. He understands the microscope and spotlight I’m under, and he wants to be there for me,” Clark said. “When I was hurt last year, he reached out and asked if there was any way he could help me or connect me with anybody. He’s somebody trying to help you, help make the game better, and help you improve. I think that’s a lot of our relationship now.”
James is not unfamiliar with Clark’s situation, having gone through it himself. Fans flocked to watch James’ game even back in highschool as many hyped him as the next Hall Of Famer. And somehow he surpassed those expectations.
At 41 years, chronic injuries like sciatica have caught up to him as well. But even as Clark etched her name into WNBA history, a brief trip to the locker room left Fever fans concerned.
Caitlin Clark Reveals Real Reason Behind Mid-Game Locker Room Visits
The Indiana Fever fans held their breath when the broadcast announced Caitlin Clark was not on the sidelines but in the locker room working with the medical staff. Her 2025 absence was due to soft tissue injuries that can return. Even after Clark returned to the court, she looked to be stretching her groin. She also made another trip back to the locker room. However, the Fever star has clarified the reason behind those trips and the fans can sigh in relief.
“Just getting my back adjusted. It gets out of line pretty quickly, so just getting my back put back in place a little bit. Other than that, I feel great,” Clark said. Stephanie White echoed the same. citing mechanics as a reason behind these problems. “It’s part of maintaining the body,” White said. “As she has adjusted her body and focused on it, I think when we’re all really young, we don’t learn proper mechanics, and it doesn’t get exposed until something happens.”
Clark ended up playing 31 minutes, which should be a sign that she has returned to almost full fitness. Stephanie White has maintained in the past that they will be smart with Clark despite her confidence. They also have Lexie Hull with a nagging hamstring injury and Aliyah Boston coming off a foot injury. This team missed Monique Billings with an ankle injury too. They don’t need a repeat of 2025.
While the rust is not completely off yet, Clark was “one or two shots away” from a good game and winning it. She seemed to have trouble shooting from the left like she did last year. The defense was also a concern for Clark in this game. Ultimately, this was just the start and once Clark finds her rhythm, she will be hard to stop.
