WNBA 2024 rookie tracker: Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark, and additional
We’re keeping tabs on the performances of the best rookies each game day as the 2024 WNBA draft class continues to influence this season.
Players will be added or removed according to injury and performance.
A few rookies have started every game for their teams, including Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky and Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever.
ACL tear suffered in mid-June has sidelined Los Angeles Sparks rookie Cameron Brink, one of the lottery picks, for the remainder of the season.
Last time out: Reese had yet another historic performance in the Sky’s 85-77 victory over the Atlanta Dream on the road on Tuesday. She finished with 12 points and 19 rebounds, five of which were offensive, extending her streak of double-doubles to 11 games, which is the second-longest in WNBA history and a record for a single season. Her 19 rebounds in a game this season were the highest of any player, and it propelled her into a tie with Cheryl Ford for the third-fastest career completion of 200 rebounds (only Tina Charles and Yolanda Griffith had more). With 213 rebounds, the former LSU standout also set a new rookie record for Sky, and she did so in just 18 games.
What we discovered: Reese had quite the day. She had been named the June WNBA rookie of the month earlier in the afternoon, and she broke down in tears when talking about her All-Star selection, which was revealed that evening, following the game. And as Tuesday demonstrated, Reese is only getting better and more at ease in the professional ranks and with the Sky: Among the four players in league history to average 15 points and 15 rebounds in six games is her, along with all-time greats Griffith (1999, 2001), Sylvia Fowles (2012), and Charles (2010). — Alexandra Philippou
Last time out: If you’ve heard this before, stop us. On the road, a sizable crowd turned out to see Clark and her Fever teammates. There were 37,437 people in attendance overall for the Fever’s desert road swing stops on Sunday in Phoenix and Tuesday in Las Vegas.
The game on Tuesday did not end the way the Fever had hoped. In front of 20,366 spectators at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas defeated them 88-69 after the Aces held them to 10 points in the fourth quarter.
Clark finished with six rebounds, 11 assists, and 13 points on 4-of-12 shooting.
What we discovered: The Fever’s advantage was that they led the board 44–38 despite being close for three quarters. Indiana made 36.4% of its field goals and 23.1% of its three-pointers.
Tuesday, Clark felt better after overcoming a migraine during the victory over Phoenix. The Aces, she said, were simply too good.
The large attendance and the fact that Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell were all named All-Stars were two of the Fever’s advantages despite the loss.
“This is incredibly thrilling for Caitlin,” stated Boston, who was also an All-Star as a rookie the previous season. “Coming in as a rookie and just making the kind of impact that she does.” — Michael Voepel
Last time out: Tuesday against Atlanta, Chicago’s guard play did most of the offensive damage, but Cardoso contributed with 8 points on 3-for-9 shooting and 10 rebounds. In the last six games, she has recorded double-digit boards five times.
What we learned: With 20.9 seconds remaining in the game, Cardoso made a huge play by putbacking a missed free throw to give the Sky an eight-point lead. However, she also had another memorable moment in the first ten seconds of the game: Charles seemed to offer some advice to the rookie during a play stoppage after Cardoso’s early shot was blocked, and the two laughed and smiled together.
It is ideal for a novice such as Cardoso to gain as much knowledge as possible from one of the greatest posts of all time in Charles, either through dialogue or the experience of facing her.
Last time out: Edwards finished with 6 points (3-for-8 shooting) and 5 rebounds in 21 minutes during the Mystics’ 82-80 comeback victory over the Sparks in Los Angeles on Tuesday. She has been starting off the bench for Washington since returning from a back injury the previous game. Myisha Hines-Allen, the team’s forward, has been playing well this past week. The bench of the Mystics outscored the Sparks 29-11, in part because of Edwards.
What we discovered: Edwards secured her second Olympic berth with the Canadian national team on Tuesday, making it a significant day for her. She coincidentally squared off against a Kia Nurse from the Sparks, who is a member of Team Canada. Even though Edwards didn’t play a big part in Tokyo, it will be interesting to watch how she performs in Paris on a team that still has a large number of young players and with more college and professional experience under her belt. — Philippou
Final instance: This season, Jackson has been prone to scoring bursts, and the Sparks’ Tuesday loss to the Mystics was no exception: The former Tennessee standout led Los Angeles in first-quarter scoring with seven of her twelve points. However, after beginning
What we discovered: Jackson’s skill as a scorer draws a lot of notice. She scored two baskets on layups after going without the ball on Tuesday, along with two more 3-pointers and one turnaround fadeaway drive. Her four assists also marked a season high; three of them led to treys from teammates, and the other came from a two-man play in which she fed Dearica Hamby a gorgeous dime. While the Sparks were attempting to hold onto their lead in the fourth quarter, Jackson also tied her season-high total of three offensive boards. All of these came from crucial hustle plays. — Philippou
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