NEW YORK — Caitlin Clark has officially been crowned the WNBA Rookie of the Year in a resounding show of support, marking back-to-back wins for the Indiana Fever after Aliyah Boston took home the honor last season!
In a stunning display of confidence, a nationwide panel of sportswriters and broadcasters cast 66 out of 67 votes in favor of Clark, with Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese receiving the sole dissent.
“I’m truly honored to earn this title as Rookie of the Year! More importantly, I want to express my gratitude to everyone who has supported me throughout this season—my family, friends, teammates, the Fever organization, and all the amazing fans who cheered us on. I’m incredibly proud of what we achieved and can’t wait to see what the future holds!” Clark shared, beaming with pride.
Selected as the No. 1 overall pick from Iowa, Clark dazzled on the court with an average of 19.2 points and an impressive 8.4 assists per game, leading the WNBA to record-breaking attendance and mainstream recognition. After a rocky start to the season, she found her rhythm, becoming an All-Star starter and propelling the Fever to the playoffs for the first time since 2016, finishing with an even 20-20 record after beginning 1-8.
“I’m a tough critic of myself. I think I had a decent year,” Clark reflected following her team’s elimination in the playoffs. “What excites me most is I feel like I’m just beginning to tap into my potential. I’m always looking to improve and help this franchise grow. The best is yet to come!”
Despite not making the U.S. Olympic team—a decision that left many fans disappointed—Clark showcased her exceptional talent afterward. In her first ten games post-Olympics, she averaged an astounding 24.7 points and 9.3 assists, leading the Fever to an impressive 8-2 record.
In August alone, Clark was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Month, earned Player of the Week honors three times, and was recognized as Rookie of the Month four times. She made history by recording the first two triple-doubles by a rookie in WNBA history, setting a new single-game record with 19 assists and becoming the first rookie to score at least 30 points and dish out 10 assists in a game.
Clark dominated the league this season, sinking a staggering 122 three-pointers and boasting an impressive 90.6% free-throw accuracy. She also averaged 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals, shattering records with a phenomenal 337 assists, while making history as a rookie with 769 total points and 122 threes!
On the other hand, Angel Reese made her mark for the Chicago Sky, averaging 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds.
Off the court, Clark, Reese, and their fellow rookies were a game-changer for WNBA ratings and fan engagement. This year, six different TV partners recorded their highest viewership ever during WNBA games, and all these thrilling matchups featured the Fever.
Indiana Fever led the charge in attendance, averaging 17,036 fans at home and over 15,000 on the road. In fact, several teams even relocated their games to larger venues just to accommodate the influx of Fever fans!
Even after a tough loss to Connecticut in the first playoff game, excitement remained high. That match pulled in an average of 1.8 million viewers on ESPN, making it the most-watched WNBA playoff game since the 2000 Finals. Remarkably, it became the highest-rated playoff game ever on ESPN, all while going head-to-head with the NFL!
The excitement surrounding the league is palpable, and it’s clear that this season has set the stage for even greater things to come!
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