Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Sue Bird sends clear message on Caitlin Clark potentially breaking her WNBA record

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Chris Phelps | Last updated Jun 12, 2025 12:22 AM ET

It didn't take long for Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark to translate her game from college to the WNBA.

After four seasons with the Iowa Hawkeyes, Clark was selected with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. In her rookie year, she earned All-WNBA first-team honors after averaging 19.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and a league-leading 9.3 assists per game.

Clark also set numerous records during her rookie season, especially with her playmaking. With 337 assists in 2024, she became the WNBA's single-season assist leader. Clark also owns the single-game assists record, tallying 19 in a July 17 win over the Dallas Wings.

However, just two seasons into her career, Clark does not own the WNBA record for most career assists just yet. That honor belongs to Seattle Storm legend Sue Bird, who recorded 3,234 assists from 2002-2022.

Yet Bird seems to think Clark will eventually break her record.

On Thursday, Bird appeared on "No Offseason: The Athletic Women’s Basketball Show" to discuss a variety of topics, including Clark. When one of the hosts brought up the possibility of Clark breaking her record, Bird shared her thoughts.

"These records have no chance, they play way more games," Bird said. "I don't want to get too caught up in the games played because it is what it is. I don't feel a way about it. Records are meant to be broken. I think I played like 34 games majority of my career... They're on the clock. They better break those things in like five years."

Including her four games played in 2025, Clark has totaled 374 assists in her young career, tying her with Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard for 169th on the all-time assists list. While she still needs 2,861 more to break Bird’s record, Clark is certainly on track to do so.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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