Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark will reportedly be named the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year. If confirmed, Clark would be the third consecutive No. 1 overall draft pick to claim the honor, capping off an exceptional debut season.
Clark entered the WNBA with immense hype after a record-breaking college career at Iowa, where she set the all-time Division I scoring record, guided the Hawkeyes to two Final Fours, and took home consecutive Naismith Player of the Year awards. She managed to not only meet but exceed expectations in her first year as a pro.
Though Clark faced some challenges early on, partly due to a tough opening schedule, she quickly adapted to the pace of the league. By the midpoint of the season, she was already considered one of the top guards in the WNBA.
After being controversially left off Team USA‘s Olympic roster, Clark’s game reached another level, propelling the Fever to their first playoff appearance since 2016 and earning herself a place in the MVP conversation.
While Clark was not expected to secure the MVP award, she finished fourth in the voting, behind A’ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier, and Breanna Stewart. This accomplishment made her the first rookie to finish in the top five of MVP voting since Elena Delle Donne in 2013.
Clark’s stats in rookie season
For the season, Clark put up impressive numbers, averaging 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 8.4 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 34.4 percent from three-point range.
She led all rookies in scoring, assists, steals, and 3-pointers made (122), while ranking seventh in scoring, first in assists, and first in made 3-pointers among all players in the league. She also became just the fourth player, and the first rookie, in WNBA history to average at least 15 points, five rebounds, and five assists over a season.
When is the WNBA Rookie of the Year 2024 being announced?
The WNBA has yet to make an official announcement regarding this season’s Rookie of the Year award. Last year, the announcement came in early October, while this year’s regular season wrapped up on September 19, with the Finals scheduled to conclude by October 20.