The Fever Lost by Three. Clark Still Broke a Diana Taurasi Record That Took 62 Games.

Indiana Fever lost their season opener to the Dallas Wings, 107-104, on Friday night. Caitlin Clark missed a logo three with 4.5 seconds left that would have tied it. The loss stings. The history does not.

In the third quarter, Clark crossed into territory no WNBA player has reached faster: 1,000 career points, 250 rebounds, and 250 assists — all in 54 games. Diana Taurasi, the all-time WNBA scoring leader, needed 62 to hit the same marks. Clark got there in eight fewer. Through 54 games she sits at 1,003 points, 297 rebounds, and 459 assists, averaging 18.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game on 88.9 percent from the free-throw line.

LeBron James posted a congratulations on Instagram — "CONGRATS @caitlinclark22" with a row of clapping emojis. When the all-time NBA scoring leader pauses to acknowledge your statistical pace in a different league, the milestone needs no further defense.

One subplot worth monitoring: Clark left the court twice for locker-room adjustments. ABC initially reported a hip flexor and groin concern. The Fever walked it back. "Just getting my back adjusted. It gets out of line pretty quickly," Clark said afterward. Coach Stephanie White called it "just part of maintaining the body" and acknowledged it would be an ongoing thing. Clark finished with 20 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds in 31 minutes — including 10 of her 20 in the third quarter alone.

Next test: the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. CT on USA Network — and the back is worth watching as closely as the box score.