WNBA 2024 rookie tracker: Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, more

As the 2024 WNBA draft class continues to impact this season, we’re tracking the performances from top rookies every game day.

Players will be added or subtracted based on performance and injury.

Some rookies, such as Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky, have started every game for their teams.

One lottery pick, Los Angeles Sparks rookie Cameron Brink, is out for the rest of the season after suffering a torn ACL in mid-June.

Angel Reese, Chicago Sky

Forward | 6-foot-3 | Game log | Stats

Last time out: Reese had yet another historic outing in the Sky’s 85-77 road win Tuesday over the Atlanta Dream: With 12 points and 19 rebounds (5 offensive), she extended her consecutive double-double streak to 11 games — a WNBA single-season record and the second longest in WNBA history. Her 19 boards were the most by any player in a game this season and catapulted her into a tie with Cheryl Ford as the third-fastest player to reach 200 career rebounds (only Yolanda Griffith and Tina Charles had more). The former LSU star also set a new Sky rookie record for rebounds with 213 — and she achieved it in just 18 games.

What we learned: What a day for Reese. She was named WNBA rookie of the month for June earlier in the afternoon and then was emotional after the game discussing her All-Star selection, which was announced that evening. And as Tuesday showed, Reese is only continuing to improve and get more comfortable in the pros and with the Sky: She’s one of four players in league history to average 15 points and 15 boards over a six-game span, joining all-time greats Sylvia Fowles (2012), Charles (2010) and Griffith (1999, 2001). — Alexa Philippou

Up next: at Seattle Storm on Friday (10 p.m. ET, ION)

Kamilla Cardoso, Chicago Sky

Center | 6-foot-7 | Game log | Stats

Last time out: Chicago’s guard play accounted for the bulk of the damage offensively Tuesday against Atlanta, but Cardoso did her part with 8 points on 3-for-9 shooting, plus 10 rebounds. It’s the fifth time in her past six games that she has recorded double-digit boards.

What we learned: Cardoso made a big play at the end of the game with a putback off a free throw miss that put the Sky up eight with 20.9 seconds to play. But she had another memorable moment in the first 10 seconds of the game: After blocking an early shot from Cardoso, Charles appeared to give some guidance to the rookie during a play stoppage, and the two shared some smiles and a laugh during the exchange. The more a rookie like Cardoso can absorb from an all-time great post in Charles, either through conversations or the experience of going up against her, the better. — Philippou

Up next: Seattle Storm on Friday (10 p.m. ET, ION)

Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever

Guard | 6-foot | Game log | Stats

Last time out: Clark came within reach of becoming the first rookie in WNBA history to record a triple-double, finishing with 15 points, 12 assists and 9 rebounds in Indiana’s 88-82 road win on Sunday over the Phoenix Mercury. It’s Clark’s second game with 15 points and 10 assists this season, making her the second rookie in league history with multiple such games. Her second 15-point, 10-assist, 5-rebound performance are the most by a rookie in league history.

What we learned: Clark didn’t have the best shooting night (4-for-14), but her ability to push the ball and deliver to teammates in transition was critical for the Fever in erasing a 15-point deficit with a 29-15 third quarter. The Fever outscored the Mercury 20-5 in fast-break points, Indiana’s most in a game this season. Clark and Kelsey Mitchell scored or assisted on 37 second-half points, more than the entire Mercury squad scored. The Fever shot 12-for-18 off Clark’s passes, including 6-for-12 in the second half.

Just how consequential was Clark in orchestrating the offense? She scored or assisted on 50% of Indiana’s 88 points in its win, the Fever’s first this season over a team .500 or better. — Philippou

Up next: at Las Vegas Aces on Tuesday (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Aaliyah Edwards, Washington Mystics

Forward | 6-foot-3 | Game log | Stats

Last time out: After missing the previous three games with a back issue, Edwards returned to the court Saturday in the Mystics’ 88-77 home loss to the Las Vegas Aces. The former UConn standout came off the bench to play 20 minutes, finishing with 9 points and 7 rebounds (two offensive), tied for a team high, as well as 1 block, 1 steal and 1 assist.

Edwards joins Indiana’s Caitlin Clark and Chicago’s Angel Reese as the only rookies with 100 rebounds so far this season.

What we learned: Edwards largely picked up where she left off before missing time with injury. Though she didn’t have the most efficient outing (2-for-6 shooting from the field), she got to the free throw line the most of anyone on the Mystics and converted 5 of 6 from the charity stripe, tied for the second-most free throw attempts she has had in a game this season. Her defense was also impactful, as she held MVP frontrunner A’ja Wilson to 0-for-3 shooting in the first half as her primary defender and helped limit the Aces superstar to 4-for-15 shooting overall by the game’s end.

Aces coach Becky Hammon offered some praise in her postgame news conference for the Mystics rookie and the problems she caused with her pick-and-roll, calling Edwards a “solid” player who “plays at her own speed, never gets outside of her own box” and is only going to get better. — Alexa Philippou

Up next: at Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday (10 p.m. ET, ESPN3)

Rickea Jackson, Los Angeles Sparks

Forward | 6-foot-2 | Game log | Stats

Last time out: Jackson had her ninth double-digit scoring game of the season with 14 points on 6 of 10 shooting Friday. She added 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal in the Sparks’ 92-78 loss at Phoenix. The Sparks led 45-44 at halftime, but couldn’t keep up with the Mercury in the second half.

It was Jackson’s 10th game this season in which she has shot 50% or better from the field; she has shot 47.2% overall in her 18 games this season. She was the Sparks’ second-leading scorer behind Dearica Hamby, who had a career-high 29 points.

What we learned: On June 7-9, the Sparks got victories over Dallas and two-time defending champion Las Vegas in Los Angeles. And that was the last time things really went well for the Sparks.

They have played seven road games since, losing all of them. They also lost No. 2 draft pick Cameron Brink for the season to a knee injury. Guard Lexie Brown (Crohn’s disease) is now out at least until after the Olympic break. Guard Layshia Clarendon also missed Friday’s game with illness.

Los Angeles plays its first home game in three weeks on Tuesday. Compared to their last game in Los Angeles, the Sparks realistically now have a much less optimistic outlook for their playoff chances. — Voepel

Up next: vs. Washington Mystics on Tuesday (10 p.m. ET, ESPN3)