Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever has been awarded the WNBA Rookie of the Year title in a nearly unanimous decision by a national panel of sportswriters and sportscasters. Clark received 66 out of 67 votes, with the remaining vote going to Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky.
As the No. 1 overall pick from Iowa, Clark showcased her talent by averaging 19.2 points and a league-leading 8.4 assists per game. Despite a slow start to the season, she quickly found her rhythm and earned a spot as an All-Star starter. Clark's exceptional performance helped the Fever secure a playoff berth for the first time since 2016, finishing with a 20-20 record after a challenging 1-8 start.
Clark expressed her satisfaction with her rookie season, emphasizing her desire to continue improving and contributing to the franchise's success. She was not selected for the U.S. Olympic team but demonstrated her skills post-Olympics, averaging 24.7 points and 9.3 assists in the first 10 games after the break.
Throughout the season, Clark achieved numerous milestones, including setting rookie records for points scored and three-pointers made. She led the league in three-pointers, showcased impressive accuracy from the free-throw line, and recorded the first two triple-doubles by a rookie in WNBA history.
Off the court, Clark, Reese, and other rookies made a significant impact on the WNBA's viewership and attendance. Indiana led the league in attendance both at home and on the road, with several teams relocating games to larger venues to accommodate the influx of fans.
Despite Indiana's loss in the playoffs, the team's games drew substantial viewership, with one game averaging 1.8 million viewers, marking the most-watched playoff game on ESPN in WNBA history.
Clark's remarkable rookie season has solidified her as a rising star in the WNBA, and fans can expect even greater achievements from her in the seasons to come.
