Caitlin Clark has work to do to catch up to Angel Reese and Cameron Brink
The three rookies have found varying degrees of success Portada
WNBA
Caitlin Clark has work to do to catch up to Angel Reese and Cameron Brink
The three rookies have found varying degrees of success
WNBA Angel Reese speaks about hard fouls on home debut: They don’t give a damn if I’m a rookie
WNBA Caitlin Clark and her unknown middle name: Why doesn’t she ever use it?
After two weeks in the WNBA, the stars of the 2024 rookie class are starting to find their footing in pro basketball. Cameron Brink is becoming the anchor of the Los Angeles Sparks and recently posted her first 20-point ballgame in the WNBA. Angel Reese has held down the fort in Chicago while another rookie, Kamilla Cardoso, continues to recover from a shoulder injury that has delayed her debut.
But most pairs of eyes have been fixated on Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, the top overall pick in last month’s draft and arguably the most-hyped prospect in the 27-year history of the W. Clark was a serial winner with the Iowa Hawkeyes in the NCAA, but similar success has eluded her in the early days of her career in Indiana — part of a steep learning curve that many guards before her had to go through.
- Clark’s turnover issues are clouding her rookie season
Clark’s trial by fire in the WNBA has seen her endure a rollercoaster start to life in pro basketball. As of Tuesday, she leads the entire 144-player league withΒ 5.3 turnovers per game, while herΒ FeverΒ have posted a 1-6 record.
However, Clark also has three 20-point games to her name, and Indiana has had an extremely difficult schedule to begin the year. That paints the 22-year-old in a more favorable light, especially when comparing her toΒ BrinkΒ andΒ Reese.
BrinkΒ is the WNBA’s leader in blocks with 3.2 per game, leading to speculation that she could become the first rookie in more than two decades to winΒ Defensive Player of the Year.Β Reese’s rebounding was touted as an elite trait entering the draft, and she is living up to the hype on the offensive glass for the surprisingΒ SkyΒ — she is the W’s top offensive rebounder with 4.5 per game.
Clark is probably still the favorite to winΒ Rookie of the Year, especially if she can improve her scoring average of 15.4 points per night. But Brink and Reese have also already announced themselves as young players to watch, thriving in their new homes under high-level coaches inΒ Curt MillerΒ (Los Angeles) andΒ Teresa WeatherspoonΒ (Chicago).