Caitlin Clark has been officially named the WNBA Rookie of the Year, edging out Angel Reese in a closely contested battle this season. This honor comes on the heels of Clark being unanimously voted the Associated Press WNBA Rookie of the Year, capping off a remarkable season where she averaged 19.2 points, 8.4 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game. Her impressive performance also helped the Indiana Fever reach the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
Despite the Fever’s first-round exit after being swept by the Connecticut Sun, Clark’s individual accolades remained noteworthy. She was even a candidate for WNBA MVP, finishing fourth in the AP voting behind A’Ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces, who secured the award for the third time.
In addition to her Rookie of the Year title, Clark received the Peak Performer Award for leading the league in assists, setting a new league record by surpassing Alyssa Thomas. The competition for the Rookie of the Year award was fierce, with many believing Reese was initially in the lead until Clark’s strong second half of the season.
Both players set remarkable records during their rookie seasons. Reese achieved the most double-doubles by a rookie (26) and the most offensive rebounds in a single season (172), and she made history by recording three consecutive 20+ rebound games.
In her final regular-season game, Clark scored 35 points, breaking Seimone Augustus’s rookie scoring record, while also attracting an impressive average of 2.5 million viewers for that game—setting a new WNBA record.
Fever head coach Christie Sides praised Clark, saying, “Caitlin is special. Everybody knows that… she’s continued to get better… and put herself in a position to be called one of the best players in this league.”
However, Clark’s achievements come amid discussions of online abuse faced by several WNBA players, including Reese. During her final press conference, Clark spoke out against the hate and racism prevalent in online comments directed at players, stating, “Nobody in our league should be facing any sort of racism, hurtful, disrespectful, hateful comments and threats. Those aren’t fans. Those are trolls.”
Clark expressed hope that the negativity would soon be overshadowed by the league’s positive aspects, emphasizing her admiration for the players who inspired her. “Continuing to uplift and represent this league in a positive way is the best thing that we can do,” she concluded, reflecting on the potential for growth and positivity in the WNBA.
