Watch: Caitlin Clark wrestles through for her first WNBA playoff points

While Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark proved that she can score against the best defenders in the regular season, the pressure in the playoffs is different. Despite the heightened stakes of the postseason though, Clark showed once again that she can do what she does best.

Clark scored her first career playoff points against the Connecticut Sun and it was a tough bucket. It came with just a little over three minutes remaining in the first quarter and was against Marina Mabrey's tough defense.

Mabrey picked up Clark on defense as soon as she crossed half-court. Her tough defense forced the Fever rookie near the baseline where she continued to drive towards the rim. Clark then hit a reverse layup through traffic even when Brionna Jones came with the help defense. Clark's basket tied the score at 16 apiece.

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Before hitting this shot, Clark missed several attempts including from the 3-point line. However, she contributed to the team's offense with her solid playmaking.

Also read: Caitlin Clark Stats Today: How did Indiana Fever rookie fare in her playoff debut vs Connecticut Sun?

Caitlin Clark broke the WNBA's single-season rookie scoring record

Caitlin Clark is no stranger to making baskets as she was one of the WNBA's best during the regular season. Clark had the seventh-highest points per game average (19.2) and scored 769 points.

Clark set the record for most points by a rookie, breaking the previous record held by Minnesota Lynx legend Seimone Augustus in 2006 with 744.

In terms of total points, Clark finished fifth in the league behind A'ja Wilson (1,021), Arike Ogunbowale (845), Kahleah Copper (782) and Breanna Stewart (777).

Clark shot 41.7% from the field, which is relatively efficient for a guard. Additionally, she also hit 34.4% of her 3-point attempts. Meanwhile, she was almost automatic from the charity stripe with a free throw percentage of 90.6%.

Most of Caitlin Clark's points came from behind the 3-point line as she hit 122 threes and only 120 made field goals inside the arc.

Clark also displayed her solid playmaking as she set the single-season record for assists with 337.

About the author

Miguel is a basketball writer at Sportskeeda with an overall experience of 7 years. A lover of the sport owing to its mental aspect, he has played it throughout high school and college as a power forward and small forward, and has also coached high school and college basketball teams. These experiences have given him a unique perspective on the game, which translates into insightful content.

For Miguel, the San Antonio Spurs, especially during the Tim Duncan era, were the embodiment of team basketball. He respects Gregg Popovich's empathy toward his players and his understanding of the game. The Spurs' titles, Kobe Bryant's poignant "Dear Basketball" tribute, Derrick Rose's remarkable 50-point game with Minnesota and Magic Johnson's remarkable comeback are among Miguel's top basketball moments.

For his articles, he conducts thorough research, cross verifies information with at least three sources, and sometimes sacrifices speed for accuracy. Content simplification and maintaining a neutral view on topics are his strengths.

Miguel follows other sports, particularly the NFL, and when not working he enjoys hobbies like cooking and playing video games.

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Edited by Victor Ramon Galvez