It would be unfair to not admire what Caitlin Clark has been doing in her rookie season on the big stage of the WNBA. There is no doubt that Clark has been the most impactful for the Indiana Fever this season, but it’s her consistency that places her in a distinctive position as she tops the assist leader board this season. And now, after her standout performance against Mercury, the rookie guard is on the brink of breaking a former legend’s long-time record, however, that legend would not be witnessing it live irrespective of her being a huge fan of Caitlin Clark.

People were hoping that former WNBA legend Ticha Penicheiro would make it a memorable watch when Fever takes on Storm in the coming game. Her presence on the stands will symbolize her passing the torch to Caitlin Clark. However, the former Sacramento star has clarified she won’t be able to come for Sunday’s game as Penicheiro took to her X and retweeted a request for her presence in the Fever’s upcoming game. “If I wasn’t celebrating my bestie 50th birthday I would definitely be in attendance. Huge fan of CC and what she’s doing for women’s sports!! I will be watching on tv though…” wrote Penicheiro on X.

What makes the upcoming game interesting is that Clark will have the chance to surpass Ticha Penicheiro’s long-standing rookie assist record of 225. Penicheiro set the mark back in 1998 with the Sacramento Monarchs, and Clark is poised to make her mark in the WNBA history. Clark made 10 assists in her latest game against Mercury, her total assist tally now stands at 223.

Caitlin Clark’s impact on WNBA’s growth

Caitlin Clark’s on-court presence has not only captivated supporters but also significantly boosted viewership for every game she plays. The rookie player’s impact has been a major driver in the growth of the WNBA’s fan base as her games have drawn impressive viewership numbers, with 1.184 million tuning in to watch her play, compared to just 428,000 for other games.