The 2024 WNBA rookie class was the most anticipated in league history. So far, expectations largely have been met, if not exceeded. With less than a week until the All-Star break, this year’s Rookie of the Year race between Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese sets up to be one of the closest in years.
Advertisem*nt
“It’s tight. That’s for sure,” New York Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said. “They’re both wonderful players for their respective teams. That’s a hard (one). You guys (with media votes) are going to be naming that, aren’t you? Good luck with that.”
Brondello’s Liberty has seen both over the last week. New York lost to Indiana on Saturday, but rebounded with a win on Thursday. “They’re both impacting their team in a massive way,” she said.
The award won’t officially be decided until mid-September. But with the All-Star and Olympic break fast approaching, here is how rookies stack up. As with past editions, this week’s rookie rankings are not a reflection of what my current all-rookie team ballot would look like, but a gauge of how rookies have performed since July 5.
(All stats through Wednesday.)
| Rank | Player | Team | Previous rank |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Caitlin Clark | Indiana | 2 |
2 | Angel Reese | Chicago | 1 |
3 | Rickea Jackson | Los Angeles | 5 |
4 | Kamilla Cardoso | Chicago | 4 |
5 | Jacy Sheldon | Dallas | NR |
No. 1 Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever
16.7 PPG | 7.6 APG | 5.9 RPG
Clark had what might have been the best week of her career, excelling against the New York Liberty and Washington Mystics, albeit with the latter coming in defeat. Against the Liberty, she became the first WNBA rookie to record a triple-double. Her 19-point, 13-assist, 12-rebound statline was impressive, but it’s worth noting that Clark had only four turnovers against New York, which was the first time she had fewer than five in a game since June 10.
She has double-digit assists in four of her last five games. She continues to rebound at an elite level, and against the Mystics, she recorded a season-high eight combined steals and blocks. Since June 4, she’s averaging 24 points, 13 assists and 8.5 rebounds. The Rookie of the Year race is tight entering the break, and it seems likely to be close for the remainder of the year.
2. Angel Reese, Chicago Sky
14.0 PPG | 11.9 RPG | 41.9 FG%
Remember that our The Athletic rookie rankings highlight a different sample than the WNBA’s weekly awards, which helps explain why Reese (the most recent Eastern Conference Player of the Week) is second here. (The recent WNBA accolade was for games between June 27-July 7.)
Nevertheless, it’s been another excellent week for Reese. She tied a season-high with eight field goals against the Seattle Storm on July 5 and made nine free throws as well, tying a season-high. She shot more than 50 percent from the field in two of her three games this past week — something she accomplished only four times in her first 18 games. Reese is settling in, seemingly even more with each game. “I think I take my time much more now, and not rushing my shot, thinking that my shot’s gonna get blocked,” Reese said. “I try to use my finesse and my skill around the basket. I think if you notice the last four to five games, I’ve stretched my game more out.”
This was the reaction inside Barclays Center just after Reese picked up her 10th rebound.
The crowd here in Brooklyn gave Reese a similarly loud ovation as she checked out of the game. https://t.co/DqOnCsIwMI pic.twitter.com/bpTYi5Ci9L
— Ben Pickman (@benpickman) July 12, 2024
3. Rickea Jackson, Los Angeles Sparks
10.7 PPG | 3.6 RPG | 44.9 FG%
As Jackson bounces between the three and four positions, she continues to be an important piece of the Sparks’ offense. She’s been especially aggressive lately, taking 17 field goal attempts twice in her last three games, eclipsing her prior season-high of 13. She notched a season-high eight 3-point attempts in Los Angeles’ win over the Las Vegas Aces last Friday night. And though she scored a season-high 22 points in her next game against the Phoenix Mercury, Sparks coach Curt Miller said she could have been even more productive. “I just want her to want to take over at times, with how they were guarding her,” Miller said. “She had a good game. I think it could have even been a monster game.”
Advertisem*nt
4. Kamilla Cardoso, Chicago Sky
8.3 PPG | 8.0 RPG | 1.3 BPG
Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon continues to give both of her rookies high marks for their career starts. Before Chicago’s matchup against the New York Liberty on Thursday, she was effusive in her praise of Cardoso. “She’s just touching the surface. She hasn’t even scratched it yet. She’s gonna be one of the best players, one of the best bigs to ever play this game,” Weatherspoon said. “She will be known as such. That’s just how she works, to want to be known as such.”
For now, Cardoso is reliable. On a nightly basis, she grabs around 10 rebounds and takes around 10 field goal attempts. She contests shots around the rim, using her 6-foot-7 height to her advantage. “She’s doing exactly what we ask her to do in that painted area,” Weatherspoon said. “That’s not an easy place to play.” Weatherspoon continues to see Cardoso’s confidence rising as well.
You can’t teach 6’7, folks#skytown pic.twitter.com/XY1kx66hDo
— Chicago Sky (@chicagosky) July 10, 2024
5. Jacy Sheldon, Dallas Wings
5.0 PPG | 1.9 RPG | 1.8 APG
It took until mid-June for the Wings to start playing Sheldon in an extended role. But since June 15, she has played fewer than 20 minutes only once. Over the last week, Sheldon has been more aggressive on offense, attempting a career-high 12 shots against the Atlanta Dream on Sunday. She found gaps in the Dream’s zone and cut into open space when off-ball. The Wings have been ravaged by injuries throughout the first half of the season, but Sheldon’s play has been a recent bright spot.
Also considered: Aaliyah Edwards (Washington Mystics), Leonie Fiebich (New York Liberty), Julie Vanloo (Mystics), Alissa Pili (Minnesota Lynx)
(Photo of Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso: Randy Belice / NBAE via Getty Images)
Ben Pickman is a staff writer for The Athletic covering the WNBA and women’s college basketball. Previously, he was a writer at Sports Illustrated where he primarily covered women’s basketball and the NBA. He has also worked at CNN Sports and the Wisconsin Center for Journalism Ethics. Follow Ben on Twitter @benpickman
