IMO she's good in transition (if she's making layups, etc).
***Official Caitlin/Fever/Kate/Meg Games Mega Thread***
- Thread starter Tenacious E
- Start date
The 10 Best Rookie Seasons in WNBA History
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.
1. Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks, 2008
Rookie year stats: 18.5 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 3.4 APG, 2.3 BPGParker is the only Rookie of the Year to also win MVP in the same season. The No. 1 draft pick was coming off back-to-back NCAA titles at Tennessee and was immediately a force in the WNBA. She won an Olympic gold medal with Team USA in 2008, then the forward-center and the Sparks made it to the Western Conference finals. Parker went on to claim another MVP award (in 2013) and win a Defensive Player of the Year honor (2020), and she was a member of three WNBA championship teams (2016, 2021, 2023).
2. Tamika Catchings, Indiana Fever, 2002
Rookie year stats: 18.6 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 3.7 APG, 2.9 SPGCatchings was drafted No. 3 in 2001 but was rehabbing a knee injury that cut short her senior season at Tennessee. Thus, her rookie season was 2002, when she led the Fever to their first playoff appearance. Catchings recorded 9.2 win shares, the most ever by a WNBA rookie. The forward went on to collect a league MVP award (2011), was a five-time Defensive Player of the Year and won the 2012 championship.
3. Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever, 2024
Rookie year stats (through Sept. 10): 19.2 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 8.5 APG, 1.3 SPGClark was the top pick in April, following fellow No. 1 selection Aliyah Boston, who was the 2023 Rookie of the Year for the Fever. Those two have made great progress in one season as a top guard-post combo. Clark also has jelled well with starting backcourt mate Kelsey Mitchell; both are averaging just over 19 points per game. A strong case can be made that Clark has had the best offensive season ever for a WNBA rookie. Where a player such as Catchings has an edge is that she also was an elite defender as a rookie. Clark has made progress on that side of the court. And while she averages a league-high 5.7 turnovers per game, her being the team's primary ball handler and the league's assist leader must be taken into account.
4. Maya Moore, Minnesota Lynx, 2011
Rookie year stats: 13.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.4 SPGThe three-time Wade Trophy winner at UConn didn't have the biggest stats as the No. 1 pick in 2011, but her impact was immediate and enormous. She was the missing element the Lynx needed to lead them that year to the first of their four WNBA championships. The forward would go on to be league MVP in 2014, and she made six trips to the WNBA Finals in her eight seasons in the league.
5. A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces, 2018
Rookie year stats: 20.7 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.7 BPGWilson was the second of three consecutive No. 1 picks for the Aces, following Kelsey Plum (while the franchise was still in San Antonio) and before Jackie Young. As a group, they've helped lead the Aces to the past two WNBA titles. Wilson was immediately the face of the Aces franchise when it moved to Las Vegas her rookie year, and the center is on her way this season to her third MVP award. She also has won the Defensive Player of the Year Award twice.
6. Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm, 2016
Rookie year stats: 18.3 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.9 BPGStewart was coming off four consecutive NCAA titles at UConn when she became the Storm's second No. 1 pick in a row, after Jewell Loyd. During Stewart's WNBA rookie season, the forward followed in the footsteps of Candace Parker and Diana Taurasi by winning an Olympic gold medal with Team USA. Stewart, now with the New York Liberty, has since won two WNBA MVP awards and two league championships.
7. Elena Delle Donne, Chicago Sky, 2013
Rookie year stats: 18.1 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.8 BPGThe No. 2 pick out of Delaware, Delle Donne has the best 3-point rate (43.8%) and free throw rate (92.9%) of any WNBA Rookie of the Year winner. If anyone questioned whether it might take Delle Donne more time to adjust to the WNBA because she didn't play in a power conference in college, she proved that wasn't the case. The forward-guard went on to win two MVP awards and a WNBA championship.
8. Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury, 2004
Rookie year stats: 17.0 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.3 SPGThe No. 1 pick from UConn, where the guard won three consecutive NCAA titles, Taurasi was named Rookie of the Year and also won the first of six Olympic gold medals with Team USA during her debut season in the WNBA. The Mercury missed the playoffs that year but won their first WNBA title in 2007. In all, Taurasi has three championships with the Mercury. She was the 2009 league MVP, and Taurasi is the WNBA's all-time scoring leader.
9. Tina Charles, Connecticut Sun, 2010
Rookie year stats: 15.5 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.7 BPGCharles won back-to-back NCAA titles with perfect seasons at UConn before being the No. 1 pick in 2010. Until Angel Reese this year, Charles had the highest rebounding average of any rookie in WNBA history. Charles went on to win the league's MVP award in 2012. Now with Atlanta, the center ranks second to Taurasi in career scoring.
10. Angel Reese, Chicago Sky, 2024
Rookie year stats: 13.6 PPG, 13.1 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.3 SPGReese was drafted the lowest of any of the players who made this top-10 list: She was picked No. 7 this year out of LSU, where she won the 2023 NCAA title. But Reese has been a huge success as a rebounder. She established the WNBA single-season record for rebounds (446) and set the mark for most consecutive double-doubles (15). Her season was cut short by a wrist injury, but the forward still played 34 games.
Also considered: Seimone Augustus, Cheryl Ford, Sue Bird
Ranking the 10 best rookie seasons in WNBA history
Caitlin Clark got 66 of 67 votes to win WNBA Rookie of the Year. Where does her season rank among the best all time? Where does Angel Reese rank?
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Using the standard formula for "points responsible for" as (points scored) + (2 x assists) she leads the league by a pretty good margin, and good case can be made for MVP.
| Player | PR |
| Caitlin Clark | 1304 |
| Arike Ogunbowale | 1154 |
| A'Ja Wilson | 1089 |
| Sabrina Ionescu | 1064 |
| Skylar Diggins-Smith | 962 |
| Breanna Stewart | 953 |
| Jewell Lloyd | 950 |
| Kahleah Copper | 936 |
| Kelsey Plum | 911 |
| Jackie Young | 884 |
| Dearica Hamby | 869 |
| Napheesa Colier | 847 |
| Kelsey Mitchell | 825 |
| Marina Mabrey | 807 |
| Kayla McBride | 786 |
| Allisha Gray | 754 |
| Ariel Atkins | 751 |
| Jonquel Jones | 746 |
| Aliyah Boston | 737 |
| Dewanna Bonner | 703 |
| Diana Taurasi | 694 |
| Nneka Ogwumike | 692 |
| Chennedy Carter | 688 |
| Tina Charles | 680 |
| Brionna Jones | 612 |
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From the ESPN Story:
Just how good has Caitlin been as a rookie?
* She currently leads the WNBA in assists and 3-pointers.
* She ranks 7th in scoring.
* She became the first rookie to get a triple-double; she now has two.
* She has 8 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 5-game span.
* She has made at least three 3-pointers in 10 consecutive games, the longest streak in WNBA history.
Just how good has Caitlin been as a rookie?
* She currently leads the WNBA in assists and 3-pointers.
* She ranks 7th in scoring.
* She became the first rookie to get a triple-double; she now has two.
* She has 8 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 5-game span.
* She has made at least three 3-pointers in 10 consecutive games, the longest streak in WNBA history.
Caitlin is making a strong case for 1st Team All WNBA. A couple weeks ago, ESPN voted/considered her 2nd Team.
Crazy that CC has more blocks than Thomas!
Crazy that CC has more blocks than Thomas!
I didn't realize she was this close to breaking the all time assists record in a single season. Needs 11 tonight to do it.
www.sportingnews.com
Caitlin Clark assists tracker: Fever star passes Courtney Vandersloot, Alyssa Thomas for WNBA single-season record | Sporting News
As Clark's rookie season nears its end, here is where she stands on the all-time list of greatest individual WNBA seasons as a playmaker.
Barring her sitting due to a blow out or conserving her for the playoffs, or god forbid an injury, she should break all of those but most 3 pointers made. It would take her going nuts over the last 4 game to hit 18 3s.
I saw where Thomas had 12 last night, so she now needs 35 to break her own record over four more games, or 8.75 per. But she’ll need some help from the Aces, Wings, and Mystics if she wants to catch Caitlin.I didn't realize she was this close to breaking the all time assists record in a single season. Needs 11 tonight to do it.
Caitlin Clark assists tracker: Fever star passes Courtney Vandersloot, Alyssa Thomas for WNBA single-season record | Sporting News
As Clark's rookie season nears its end, here is where she stands on the all-time list of greatest individual WNBA seasons as a playmaker.
Tonight will be telling. That’s “only” 4.5 per game (which I realize is a pretty high average, but not necessarily over only 4 games). If she could hit at least 4 tonight, I still like her chances with 2 of the remaining 4 games against Dallas and Washington. If she hits 3 or fewer tonight, I don’t think she’ll get it.
She may break her record, BUT the record won't be there if Clark puts it farther away. If Clark needs 11 to break it, and Thomas needs 35 then she is 24 ahead of her. So if Clark averages say 8'5 assists thats another 36 assists. So Thomas would need 60 assists in the last 4 games or 15/gm to stay ahead of CC. Also in most sports playoff and post season count towards records, at least in college. I thought the pro's as well. So do the numbers continue beyond the next 4 games?
Do the stats in post season count? They do pretty much everywhere else......
Leaving Aj'a Wilson open repeatedly from 18 feet seems like a bad strategy.
Wilson will have 50 points if the Fever keep leaving her open from 15 feet.
Leaving her to help on D is a big mistake. Stick to her like glue and let the others worry about help defense.
The Fever scored a quick 7 pts, but the offense kinda sputtered the rest of the quarter.
Anyone have Wheeler co-leading Fever in scoring after one on your bingo card?
Is there a bigger group of fvcks who blow the late “didn’t go in” whistle than W zebras?
After a good start, this game has accelerated downhill. Yikes.
No other superstar in any other league has that bullsh!t offensive foul go against her/him.
23 points, halfway through the second quarter, isn't gonna get it done against anyone, let alone the Aces.
The Fever, especially CC, look tired. Just don’t have much energy tonight.
Brutal shooting. Not sure why sides went with wheeler so long at the expense of Caitlin and lexi.
Do we know why Sides has done anything this year?
