Even as early as now, Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark is making her case known as this season’s Rookie of the Year. Her head coach Christie Sides has sounded off on the former Iowa Hawkeyes guard’s bid to win the said award, especially after making WNBA history recently.

In a historic moment for the WNBA, Clark became the first rookie in league history to record a triple-double. Her performance of 19 points, 13 assists, and 12 rebounds led the Fever to an 83-78 come-from-behind victory over the Eastern Conference-leading New York Liberty on July 6, 2024.

The fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse erupted in celebration as Clark secured her 10th rebound to complete the historic feat. Her teammates joined in the excitement, pouring water on her head as she received the game ball in the locker room.

Clark credited her teammates for their high shooting percentage and the fans for their support in helping the Fever snap a nine-game losing streak against the Liberty. The win improved the Fever’s record to 9-13, while the Liberty’s record now stands at 17-4.

The rookie’s breakout performance has sparked a surge in interest in the Fever and the WNBA as a whole. A recent matchup between the Fever and the Chicago Sky, featuring another Rookie of the Year candidate in Angel Reese , averaged 2.25 million viewers, a 225% increase over the comparable game last season. The Fever’s road loss to the defending champion Las Vegas Aces also drew the WNBA’s largest regular season single-game attendance since 1999.

Indiana Fever Coach Christie Sides Drops Take on Caitlin Clark’s Rookie of the Year Bid

After Clark made history, Fever head coach gave her take on the Indiana star’s bid to win the Rookie of the Year award. In a tweet by Matthew Byrne on X:

Christie Sides was asked if she wanted to take the opportunity to make a case for Caitlin Clark ROTY: “I’m always gonna make a case for my players. First and foremost she is the most competitive human being I’ve ever met. I really compare her to Diana Tuarasi.”

Full clip: pic.twitter.com/r44ReuWN2p

— Matthew Byrne (@MatthewByrne1) July 6, 2024

In her rookie campaign, Caitlin Clark is averaging a well-rounded stat line of 16.1 points, 6.0 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. The Indiana Fever, currently eighth in the league, are eyeing a playoff berth this season behind their historic rookie star.

Clark and the Fever still have a chance to put on a strong finish to their regular season soon. If she leads Indiana to the playoffs, expect the ROTY award to have the point guard’s name on it.