Caitlin ClarkGETTY IMAGE
Caitlin Clark is 0-3 in the first three games of her WNBA career but an entirely made up stat category proves that things are not as bad as they look. The No. 1 overall pick is actually in elite company with how things have gone so far in terms of statistics.

It disproves all of Clark’s haters and Diana Taurasi!

Only four players in league history scored 50 or more points with 15 or more assists during the first three games of their careers. Nikki McCray did it first in 1998. Sue Bird did it in 2002. Candace Parker did it in 2008. Clark did it this year.

Although this feat is obviously cherry-picked by the WNBA to promote its biggest star, the effort did not fall short. It actually puts Clark’s greatness into perspective.

She was so good at Iowa that a historic start to her professional career isn’t considered to be impressive.

In fact, it has been the opposite. Clark has been repeatedly criticized for her early struggles and the 22-year-old had to literally beg her fans for grace while the Indiana Fever get things sorted out. And yet, she is actually playing as well as three all-time greats.

Clark’s 21 turnovers are not ideal. Nor are the three losses.

However, her stats are being soured by her teammates’ inability to handle slick dishes. A hot mic even appeared to catch the young point guard complain about their struggles to head coach Christie Sides.

Taurasi and other prominent figures across the WNBA expected a transitional period for Clark. While there is certainly some element of adjustment, she is shooting 37% from the field and 30% from beyond the arc with 4.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists (should be more) per game.

Is that stat line not impressive enough for a rookie?? Caitlin Clark is literally doing things that only Parker, Bird and McCray have done.