Iowa WBB HC Jan Jensen congratulates Caitlin Clark on becoming first-ever WNBA rookie to ‘notch a triple-double’: “Way to go CC”

 

WNBA rookie Caitlin Clark and Iowa coach Jan Jensen WNBA rookie Caitlin Clark and Iowa coach Jan Jensen (Image Credits: IG/Iowa Women’s Basketball & Caitlin Clark)

Caitlin Clark became the first WNBA rookie to notch a triple-double during the Indiana Fever’s 83-78 win against the New York Liberty on Saturday. Clark tallied 19 points, 12 rebounds and 13 assists in a massive showing for the Fever.

Clark came close to grabbing her first triple-double in the WNBA when the Fever beat the Phoenix Mercury 88-82 on Jun. 30. She registered 15 points, nine rebounds and 12 assists that day.

The ever-supportive Iowa coach Jan Jensen, who has had a long and storied career with Clark when she was breaking records for the Hawkeyes, was one of the first people to congratulate her.

Jensen posted a picture of Clark on her Instagram stories during the game, congratulating her ferociously on the accomplishment.

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“In case you’re not watching @indianafever. @caitlinclark just made history again!” Jensen wrote.

“1st rookie to notch a triple-double. Way to go, CC!”

Jensen's IG storiesJensen’s IG stories
When she notched rebound No. 10, the record-breaking Caitlin Clark received a standing ovation from the Gainbridge Fieldhouse crowd for accomplishing the astonishing feat.

During her postgame news conference, Clark talked about her feelings at the moment she became the first rookie in the WNBA to register a triple-double based on the crowd’s reaction.

“I think everybody was a little confused as to why they were going to so nuts over rebound,” Clark said. “I mean, they can do that every time, but this was a little different.

“I was trying to get the crowd to be quiet,” Clark said. “(Hull) was shooting a free throw and I was like, I appreciate it but I was just trying to get them to be quiet, but obviously it’s really cool. I mean, my teammates been finishing the ball really, really high rate, My assist numbers, that’s because of them.”

Caitlin Clark gets the applause of the basketball world

Caitlin Clark crashed college basketball records for fun during her tenure as an Iowa Hawkeyes player, and it included 17 triple-doubles, just behind Phoenix Mercury star Sabrina Ionescu, who was on the opposing end of Saturday night’s showing by the Fever rookie.

Former Hawkeyes teammate Jada Gyamfi was thrilled for Clark, posting an emotional message on her Instagram stories.

It was captioned:

“ily!!!”

Gyamfi's IG storiesGyamfi’s IG stories
During her postgame news conference, Indiana coach Christie Sides was also thrilled with her rookie’s latest accomplishment.

“Caitlin with her first triple-double tonight, oh my gosh, that’s incredible,” Sides said. ” First by a rookie in league history, first in Fever history, we just keep growing.”

 

Caitlin Clark continues to boost WNBA attendance

When she played for the Iowa Hawkeyes, Caitlin Clark was a certified crowd puller with the ‘Caitlin Clark effect’ leading to outrageously high ticket prices for games that she played in, with fans flocking to catch a glimpse of the superstar.

This trend has continued in the WNBA, with the Gainbridge Fieldhouse averaging 16,700 fans for every Fever game, the best attendance record in the WNBA.

Longtime college basketball and ESPN broadcaster Dick Vitale also pointed out the impact of Clark on the WNBA on X after the clash.

“The @IndianaFever with a big time quality W vs the multi talented @nyliberty as superstar @CaitlinClark22 leads the way with a triple double 19 pts -12 rebounds – 13 assists. Her star power as usual is a box office bonanza for the @WNBA – sell outs everywhere she plays,” Vitale tweeted.

While she might have struggled in her first few games in the WNBA, Clark seems to have a bit between her teeth. She is averaging 16.0 points on 39.1% shooting from the floor and 33.7% from beyond the arc, 5.7 rebounds and 7.1 assists. She has gotten up to speed with the rigors of the professional league.