Caitlin Clark entered the WNBA season with upper expectancies than any rookie in fresh reminiscence. Now not handiest was once she tasked with the Indiana Fever again to relevance upcoming a seven-year playoff drought, however the destiny of the WNBA itself was once placed on her shoulders upcoming she sparked a speedy build up within the reputation of ladies’s basketball on the school stage.
From time to time, it kind of feels like remaining has been requested of the 22-year-old from Iowa, particularly as she and the Fever started the season on an 11-games-in-20-days gantlet affected by nationally televised contests towards the most productive groups within the league. A 2-9 get started when Clark had one double-double, 3 single-digit scoring video games and extra handovers than rebounds looked as if it would handiest ascertain suspicions that WNBA dominance can be some distance away for the varsity celebrity.
However that shaky get started has develop into a free reminiscence. Clark has discovered the professional sport at the fly. She leads the WNBA in assists (8.3 consistent with sport) and overall issues created (1,012) by the use of issues and assists. Indiana already has as many wins this season because it did a yr in the past and is fasten for the fourth-most victories within the league for the reason that get started of July. Clark has additionally etched her title within the league’s ancient file. In opposition to the Seattle Typhoon on Sunday, she all set the file for many assists by means of a first-year participant, passing WNBA legend Ticha Penicheiro with 12 video games to supplementary. Clark additionally has probably the most assists in one sport, dishing 19 dimes in a loss to the Dallas Wings prior to the Olympic fracture.
Just about three-quarters of the way in which thru her rookie season, it’s truthful to mention Clark is hanging in combination probably the most very best first seasons in league historical past, specifically from the barricade place.
“It’s amazing what Caitlin’s been able to do in her short career so far, it’s just been nothing short of remarkable,” Diana Taurasi stated. “The one thing that I really love about her is she loves the game. You can tell she’s put the work in. And even throughout her short WNBA career, it’s been a lot of pressure, a lot of things thrown at her, and she keeps showing up and keeps getting better every single game. So her future is super bright.”
Caitlin Clark became up the warmth in our first two video games again to earn @AP Participant of the Age honors
26.0 PPG
9.2 APG
5.0 RPG pic.twitter.com/utR9xvCaBp— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) August 21, 2024
Taurasi is aware of how difficult the league is for younger guards. Considering again to the admirable drafted novices in WNBA lore (and now not one of the vital inaugural gamers who debuted at after ages like Cynthia Cooper and Sheryl Swoopes), they have been virtually all frontcourt gamers. Tamika Catchings was once moment in defensive participant of the yr vote casting and 3rd at the MVP poll right through her first yr as a miniature ahead. Candace Parker received MVP as a rookie on the energy ahead place. Over the endmost decade, Breanna Stewart, A’ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier, Aliyah Boston and Angel Reese were All-Stars as novices. Simplest Rhyne Howard joins Clark at the checklist of guards to earn that honor.
Sue Hen is extensively thought to be the most productive level barricade in WNBA historical past. She averaged 14.4 issues and six assists consistent with sport in her debut season with the Typhoon in 2002. Clark’s averages of 17.8 issues and eight.3 assists with ease exceed Hen’s marks, and the Indiana rookie additionally has the next grassland function share. As Clark enters the end-of-season awards dialogue, believe that Hen was once a first-team all-WNBA variety for her output as a rookie.
Important WNBA rookie guards
| Hour | Participant | PPG | RPG | APG | FG % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Ticha Penicheiro | 6.2 | 4.7 | 7.5 | 33.3 |
| 2002 | Sue Hen | 14.4 | 2.6 | 6 | 40.3 |
| 2004 | Diana Taurasi | 17 | 4.4 | 3.9 | 41.6 |
| 2017 | Kelsey Plum | 8.5 | 1.9 | 3.4 | 34.6 |
| 2024 | Caitlin Clark | 17.8 | 5.8 | 8.3 | 41.2 |
Taurasi was once additionally the primary select when she entered the WNBA two decades in the past. Now the league’s all-time scorer by means of a immense margin, Taurasi publish 17 issues consistent with sport as a rookie. It was once a distinct offensive circumstance, as WNBA groups averaged 67.1 issues right through the 2004 season when put next with 81.7 in 2024, however outpacing Taurasi in her first season — once more, a first-team all-WNBA marketing campaign for the previous UConn barricade — paints a nice-looking image of what Clark has completed as a scorer. Since Clark has taken the next quantity of 3-pointers than Taurasi in her first season, she additionally has the next efficient grassland function share than rookie Taurasi did.
What about Clark’s early life idol Maya Moore? Clark bests her in each counting stat alternative than 3-point share, even though Moore was once a stunning drive on protection and surrounded by means of a lot more veteran skill because the Minnesota Lynx received a championship in 2011.
Even transferring into the trendy while of the WNBA, Clark compares favorably to high-profile guards. Arike Ogunbowale is the lone first-year perimeter participant to have the next scoring moderate (19.1 ppg in 2019) than Clark within the age decade, however Clark has greater than doubled the Wings big name’s assists (3.2) and rebounds (2.4).
Date Olympians like Jewell Loyd, Jackie Younger and Sabrina Ionescu all took 3 or 4 seasons to get to All-Megastar stage manufacturing upcoming being Incorrect. 1 selections. Even prolific school scorers like Kelsey Plum and Kelsey Mitchell — who have been the lead two scorers in NCAA girls’s basketball historical past prior to Clark and Dyaisha Truthful climbed the checklist in 2024 — didn’t explode onto the scene as bucket-getters within the WNBA. Plum and Mitchell averaged 8.5 and 12.7 issues of their rookie seasons, every capturing 34.6 p.c from the grassland as they acclimated to the upper stage of play games. Now, the pair are multi-time All-Stars, the most effective capturing guards within the league, and admirers of Clark’s ascension.
“She’s tremendous,” Plum stated right through All-Megastar Weekend. “I think she’ll end up being one of the greatest players we’ll ever see in this league. The way that she’s handled everything with so much grace and just continues to go out and perform at a high level just speaks to who she is.”
It was once by no means a suspicion that Clark in the end would be on one?s feet to the extent of the ones friends, however the velocity of her arrival is exclusive. The changes gamers in most cases put together right through the offseason have come between video games. She and Boston are thriving within the screen-and-roll sport as they determine the place to all set the selections — Clark loves her drag monitors up elevated; now, Clark has extra assists to Boston (73) than any alternative combo within the league. The traps and blitzes that bedeviled her to begin the season have become sun-baked passes to Boston within the trim roll, to visible jumpers for her Indiana teammates.
GO DEEPER
Is Caitlin Clark the WNBA’s very best rookie barricade of all generation? She’s making a powerful case
Clark has picked aside defenders sitting on her left hand and made dry drives to the basket along with her proper. Her 3-point share (34.7) since the ones first 11 video games is above league moderate. She’s reined in her handovers ever so rather, bringing them i’m sick from 5.7 consistent with sport within the first time of the season to five.5 the upcoming time and now 5. Most significantly, the adjustments have all ended in extra wins for the Fever. They only finished a season sweep of the Phoenix Mercury and feature accrued wins over the Fresh York Sovereignty, Minnesota and Seattle — groups forward of Indiana within the standings, even though most likely now not for lengthy.
Clark and the Fever needed to go thru fireplace right through the primary a part of the season, however they’re reaping the rewards now. Indiana has the second-easiest residue agenda and has regarded the a part of a contender within the two video games for the reason that Olympic fracture, with Clark averaging 26 issues and 9.5 assists within the two wins. She has been a faster learn about than maximum, however the generation off has supercharged her efficiency.
The WNBA’s veterans may have had an revel in benefit over Clark when the season tipped off, however that margin has eroded. Clark is in the course of a season for the ages. That she’s a rookie handiest way the bar will proceed to be raised right through her already ancient profession.
Rookie ratings
| Rank | Participant | Staff | Earlier rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Caitlin Clark | 1 | |
| 2 | Angel Reese | 2 | |
| 3 | Leonie Fiebich | NR | |
| 4 | Rickea Jackson | 3 | |
| 5 | Kamilla Cardoso | 4 |
13.6 PPG | 12.3 RPG | 39.8 FG%
The Sky ahead has persisted to dominate the glass at the same time as she’s struggled to attain successfully since getting back from the Olympic fracture. Reese is on year to collapse Sylvia Fowles’ file for overall rebounds in a season and is with ease forward of Fowles’ mark for rebounds consistent with sport (11.9).
5.8 PPG | 3.0 RPG | 36.7 3PT FG%
Fiebich’s box-score stats belie her affect at the league’s very best group. Her season-long plus-minus of plus-187 is miles forward of the second one rookie at the checklist (Olivia Époupa at plus-29), and she or he fills each function wanted by means of Fresh York, particularly perimeter protection and flattening 3s.
11.8 PPG | 3.9 RPG | 45.8 FG%
Jackson is the one rookie capturing a minimum of 45 p.c from the grassland and scoring 10 issues consistent with sport. She’s been specifically excellent on post-ups, trailing handiest A’ja Wilson, Nneka Ogwumike, Breanna Stewart and Brittney Griner in issues consistent with post-up ownership, consistent with 2nd Spectrum.
8.7 PPG | 7.8 RPG | 50.0 FG%
Cardoso is making 71 p.c of her grassland function makes an attempt for the reason that fracture, however foul bother is combating her from staying at the ground extra incessantly.
