Caitlin Clark was born in 2002, five years after the WNBA launched, and grew up watching the league. Playing in the WNBA has long been one of her dreams. Now, near the end of her record-breaking first season, it’s clear that she has already made a mark in just one summer.
“A lot of people in this rookie class grew up just loving this league,” Clark said. “They speak of a lot of memories through their childhood that were spent at a WNBA game or they have a specific player that they love.
“I don’t know if being a fan necessarily makes you more prepared to play in the WNBA — but maybe from the standpoint of really knowing how good this league is. You’re going to continue to see these young players that come into the league and have idolized [a player] or specific team … and that was a very impactful part of their young life.”
Some might one day say Clark influenced them that way. She is off to a strong start to what could be an epic career. Just how good has she been as a rookie?
She currently leads the WNBA in assists and 3-pointers and ranks seventh in scoring. She became the first rookie to get a triple-double; she has two. Clark has eight games of at least 20 points and 10 assists, the most by any player in a season. Through Sunday’s victory over the Atlanta Dream, she became the first player in WNBA history to average at least 25 points and 10 assists over a five-game span.
Clark also has made at least three 3-pointers in 10 consecutive games, the longest streak in WNBA history. And Clark has been a big factor in helping the Indiana Fever break their seven-year playoff drought, as they have qualified for the postseason for the first time since 2016.
When it comes to impact in terms of getting exposure for the WNBA and bringing in new fans, Clark has been in a league of her own. Her popularity, boosted by her run to the NCAA Division I scoring record and two trips to the national championship game while at Iowa, has translated to the WNBA just as her game has. Fever tickets are a hot commodity both in Indiana and around the league.
Where does Clark’s season rank among the top 10 rookie seasons in WNBA history? And does Angel Reese’s — now sidelined for the rest of the season with a wrist injury — also land on that list? All rookies were eligible, not only those players who were named WNBA Rookie of the Year. That said, everyone on the list except this year’s rookies won that honor. The 2024 award hasn’t been given yet, although Clark is the overwhelming favorite.
Like most rankings, this one is almost impossible to limit to 10. How, for instance, can we leave off Seimone Augustus, who is the all-time rookie leader in scoring average (21.9 in 2006)? What about Cheryl Ford, who averaged a double-double (10.8 PPG, 10.4 RPG) in 2003 and is the only Rookie of the Year winner besides Maya Moore to win a WNBA championship in her first year?
We tried to take into account rookies who made an impact in multiple categories during their first season and also whether they performed feats that were historical not just for rookies but players in general. Only two true guards — Clark and Diana Taurasi — made this list. That’s probably because it can take a little longer for guards to adjust to the league.
But in Clark’s case, it didn’t take long until the league had to start adjusting to her.