Current:Home > FinanceCaitlin Clark wins WNBA Rookie of the Year after historic debut with Fever-InfoLens
Caitlin Clark wins WNBA Rookie of the Year after historic debut with Fever
View Date:2024-12-23 15:40:31
First she was drafted No. 1 after re-writing the record books in college. Then she helped lift the WNBA to unprecedented heights with her logo 3s, did-you-see-that?! passing and habit of selling out every arena she walked into. Now, Caitlin Clark has capped a sensational inaugural professional season by winning the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year Award.
An Iowa alum, Clark won with 66 of 67 votes. She beat her biggest competition and college rival Angel Reese in the voting, a nod to Indiana’s success behind Clark and Clark's eye-popping statistics and records in multiple categories. Reese, who led the WNBA in rebounding (13.1 per game), missed the last couple weeks of the regular season with a broken wrist. Reese received one vote.
Indiana made the playoffs for the first time since 2016 as the No. 6 seed, taking on the Connecticut Sun in their first-round series. The Fever were swept 2-0 but Clark said Friday it gave them ''a taste of where we want to be.''
During the regular season, Clark led all rookies in scoring (19.2 ppg), good enough for seventh-best in the league, while leading the WNBA in assists (8.4 per game) and made 3s (122). She set numerous records throughout the year, including the single-season rookie scoring record, single-season assists record, and single-game assists record, among others. In July, she became the first rookie in the league’s 28-year history to record a triple double. She notched her second on Sept. 4.
MORE:Caitlin Clark rewrites WNBA record book: Inside look at rookie's amazing season
MORE:How many points did Caitlin Clark score today? Rookie season ends with WNBA playoffs loss
MORE:Could Caitlin Clark be the WNBA all-time leading scorer? Here's when she could do it
“I am incredibly honored to be named Rookie of the Year, but more than that, I am grateful to everyone that supported me throughout this past season – my family and friends, my teammates, the Fever organization and everyone that cheered us on all season. I am so proud of what we accomplished and so excited for what the future holds,” Clark said in a statement.
Clark’s popularity has helped make the Fever must-see TV, as the league shattered ratings records for games involving Clark. Indiana also set a franchise attendance record, as thousands regularly poured into Gainbridge Fieldhouse to watch her. Road games against the Fever were also a tough ticket, and a handful of teams had to move their games vs. Indiana to bigger arenas to accommodate demand.
Clark is likely to earn All-WNBA honors also. In the WNBA, voters select a five-person first and second team of the best players regardless of position.
Email Lindsay Schnell at [email protected] and follow her on social media @Lindsay_Schnell
This story has been updated with new information.
veryGood! (534)
Related
- Prosecutor failed to show that Musk’s $1M-a-day sweepstakes was an illegal lottery, judge says
- Supreme Court rebuffs Biden administration plea to restore multibillion-dollar student debt plan
- Wisconsin sheriff investigating homicide at aging maximum security prison
- Where is College GameDay this week? Location, what to know for ESPN show on Week 1
- Disease could kill most of the ‘ohi‘a forests on Hawaii’s Big Island within 20 years
- Woman shot at White Sox game sues team and stadium authority
- Crews work to restore power to more than 300,000 Michigan homes, businesses after storms
- How safe are luxury yachts? What to know after Mike Lynch yacht disaster left 7 dead
- Wildfires burn on both coasts. Is climate change to blame?
- Following protests, DeSantis says plan to develop state parks is ‘going back to the drawing board’
Ranking
- Smithfield agrees to pay $2 million to resolve child labor allegations at Minnesota meat plant
- The Latest: Trump faces new indictment as Harris seeks to defy history for VPs
- 'Deadpool & Wolverine' deleted scene teases this scene-stealing character could return
- Trump campaign was warned not to take photos at Arlington before altercation, defense official says
- Georgia public universities and colleges see enrollment rise by 6%
- Reports: Veteran pitcher Rich Hill to rejoin Red Sox at age 44
- DJT sinks to new low: Why Trump Media investors are feeling less bullish
- 1 San Diego police officer dead, 1 in critical condition after pursuit crash
Recommendation
-
'Yellowstone's powerful opening: What happened to Kevin Costner's John Dutton?
-
GM delays Indiana electric vehicle battery factory but finalizes joint venture deal with Samsung
-
Lionel Messi is back, training with Inter Miami. When will he return to competition?
-
Ben Affleck is 'not dating' RFK Jr.'s daughter Kick Kennedy, rep says
-
College football Week 12 expert picks for every Top 25 game include SEC showdowns
-
Julianne Hough Says Ex Brooks Laich Making Her Feel Like a “Little Girl” Contributed to Their Divorce
-
'Lord of the Rings' series 'The Rings of Power' is beautiful but empty in Season 2
-
Bachelor Nation’s Justin Glaze and Susie Evans Break Up After 7 Months Confirming Romance