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Caitlin Clark · The list of superlatives used to describe Caitlin Clark after September 4, 2024’s performance — from both teammates and the opposition — ranged from “a special player” to “elite” to “Rookie of the Year frontrunner,” and everything in between. Through her historic demonstration against the Los Angeles Sparks, Clark also found time to reintroduce another often-used adjective: “the fastest player to.” Surged, perhaps, by the confidence of already having helped the Indiana Fever stamp its first postseason ticket since 2016, Clark’s game bordered on both fearless and free, yet also cool and controlled. The 40-minute masterpiece, ripe with behind-the-back finds and side-court logo triples, also afforded history, as Clark became both WNBA history’s fastest to reach 100 3-pointers, and its first rookie to record multiple single-season triple-doubles in a single season. Following the tried-and-true formula for success during her breathtaking Hawkeyes tenure, which offered a 17-0 record when recording a triple-double, Clark recorded 24 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals, and four trifectas. Fueled by the heroics of the reigning Eastern Conference Player of the Month and ultimately-named Rookie of the Year, Indiana rode said momentum to a fifth-consecutive victory, marking themselves as a must-watch ahead of the closely-arriving playoffs. · State of Mint