Las Vegas Aces superstar A’ja Wilson and Indiana Fever rookie Kaitlyn Clark both broke WNBA records on Sunday, with Wilson becoming the first player to reach 1,000 points in a single season and Clark breaking the rookie scoring record.
Wilson set a new single-season scoring record when he hit a mid-range jumper with two minutes left in a game against the Connecticut Sun.
The crowd at Las Vegas’ Michelob Ultra Arena gave the two-time MVP a rousing round of applause, with many holding signs reading “THE GOAT” and the number 1,000. The Aces won 84-71.
Meanwhile, Clarke extended her WNBA rookie scoring record to 761 points with 35 points in the game as the team beat the Dallas Wings 110-109.
The 22-year-old broke the rookie scoring record of 744 points set by Hall of Famer Seimone Augustus, who was selected by the Minnesota Lynx in the 2006 WNBA Draft.
The accomplishment adds to a historic season for the 2024 No. 1 pick, which includes: WNBA single-season assist recordHe set a single-game assist record with 19 assists against the Dallas Wings in July and set a rookie assist record last month. Clark also First rookie to record a triple-double And he’s the rookie with the most three-pointers made in league history.
After Wilson was subbed off the game after breaking the single-season scoring record, her ace teammates all hugged her and congratulated her.
“My teammates were just like, ‘Okay, come on,'” Wilson said. “If someone tells me something – my teammates are going to make sure I know exactly what’s going on. It’s been fun. I’m glad we finally figured it out.”
Wilson expressed his gratitude to the fans for their support, adding that he was “grateful” to be a part of a franchise and fan base like the Aces.
“It’s really great,” Wilson said. “When I got the basketball, literally everyone was on their feet and I just realized, ‘Wow, wow… Wait a minute? This is pressure.’ Those fans are lovely. They’re the best fans when they’re really into the game.”
Wilson said he was “amazed” that no player in league history has scored 1,000 points in a season.
“There are a few buckets in this league,” Wilson said. “It was pretty surreal, but it was one of those things that I didn’t understand I could get to. I didn’t really realize it until the second half where I was like, ‘No, this is possible. ‘ … I’m living it now, and I’m living my dream. So I’m so grateful to be here right now. I’m going to hold on to it while I have it because I know someone is going to break it soon and hit 2,000 points in a season.”
Last week, Wilson Set a league record for most points scored in a WNBA season.It surpassed the previous record of 939, set by Jewel Lloyd of the Seattle Storm last year.
Clark called breaking Augustus’ record a “full circle” moment, recalling it as one of her oldest WNBA memories.
“When I first went to a WNBA game, I think the first player I met while watching the players warm up courtside was Seymone,” Clark said.
“… It’s definitely back to square one. I remember taking pictures of her with my dad’s little phone,” she said. “I always loved her game and the way she shot the ball and scored. Like I said, it’s definitely back to square one.”
Clark and the Fever went 20-19, clinching a playoff spot for the first time since 2016.
Indiana has one game left in the regular season, playing the Washington Mystics on Thursday.
The Aces are 25-13 after Sunday’s game with two more games remaining in the regular season.
Wilson will look to add to his historic point total this year in Seattle next Tuesday against the Storm.
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