Could Caitlin Clark be the WNBA all-time leading scorer? Here’s when she could do it

Caitlin Clark broke several WNBA records in her rookie season, but how long might it take for her to break some of the league’s coveted career records?

The rookie sensation’s season ended in the first round of the 2024 WNBA playoffs when the Indiana Fever were eliminated by the Connecticut Sun. It may have just been her first year, but Clark is already trending toward having one of the greatest careers in basketball history. Less than a year after she became the NCAA’s all-time scoring leader, Clark set the WNBA record for most points in a season by a rookie, most assists in a season and the single-season rookie record for 3-pointers, among several others.

After such a stellar start, it’s not crazy to think Clark will eventually become the career leader in stats like points, assists and 3-pointers. But how long would it take for her to do it?

Could Caitlin Clark break WNBA career points record?

In 2024, Clark averaged 19.2 points per game, playing in all 40 regular season games (playoff stats don’t count toward career stats). In total, she scored 769 points in her rookie season.

This record is tricky to predict because it all rests on how long the all-time points leader continues to play. The leader is Diana Taurasi at 10,646 points. The Phoenix Mercury legend has played 20 seasons in the league and has yet to announce if she’ll return for another one or retire.

In the scenario where Taurasi retires, Clark needs 9,878 points to break the record. If she kept at her current pace of 19.2 points per game, played in every game and the WNBA stays at 40 regular season games, Clark would become the WNBA all-time scoring leader in her 14th season − or the year 2037.

Of course, that accounts for her staying healthy and not missing a game, as an injury would prolong her chase toward the record. If she ups her scoring average and stays healthy, she could accomplish it before then.

Could Caitlin Clark break WNBA career assists record?

In 2024, Clark averaged 8.4 assists per game to achieve a total of 337, a WNBA season record.

The record holder for most assists in a WNBA career is Sue Bird at 3,234. If Clark kept at her current pace of 8.4 assists per game, played in every game and the WNBA stays at 40 regular season games, she would become the WNBA all-time assists leader in her 10th season − or the year 2033.

The caveat for this record is a player is close to breaking Bird’s record. New York Liberty guard Courtney Vandersloot is 385 assists away from taking the record, which she is on pace to do in 2026 if she continues to play.

Could Caitlin Clark break WNBA career 3-point record?

In 2024, Clark averaged 3.1 made 3-pointers her game to knock down 122 shots behind the arc, the most in the WNBA this season.

Just like the points record, the 3-pointers made record belongs to Taurasi, who has a total of 1,447. If Taurasi retires and Clark kept at her current pace, played in every game and the WNBA stays at 40 regular season games, she would break the record in her 12th season − or the year 2035.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Caitlin Clark, WNBA all-time leading scorer? When she could do it