ESPN
May 27, 2024, 12:20 AM ET
The 2024 WNBA season is off and running for one of the most anticipated rookie classes in league history. With the WNBA at a tipping point, all eyes are on Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, the No. 1 pick in April's draft and the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer.
But the rookie class is loaded with potential future stars. In addition to Clark, forwards Cameron Brink, the No. 2 draft pick with the Los Angeles Sparks, and Angel Reese, the No. 7 pick to the Chicago Sky, continue to be among the rookies in starting lineups.
How are the top rookies playing? We'll track their performances every time they take the court, so check back every game day.
Looking for center Kamilla Cardoso? She's sidelined with a shoulder injury suffered in early May. When she returns, we'll add the Sky's No. 3 pick -- and other rookies as the season progresses.
Last updated: May 26
Rickea Jackson, Los Angeles Sparks
Forward | 6-foot-2 | Game log | Stats
Last time out: Coming off a season-best 16 points against the Fever on Friday, Jackson had a quiet night offensively in L.A.'s 84-83 loss to the Dallas Wings on Sunday: four points and two shot attempts, both season lows. Her only made field goal came off a drive to the hoop. Another time she drew a foul on Stephanie Soares and converted both shots from the free throw line. The former Tennessee star still saw ample playing time off the bench (24 minutes) and corralled three rebounds.
What stood out: Sparks coach Curt Miller went with a reserve-centric rotation in the fourth quarter, though it didn't involve Jackson. The group sparked Los Angeles to erase Dallas' 12-point lead and go ahead by one, a welcomed sign for a club that had struggled to get meaningful contributions from its bench outside of Jackson to start the season. Nonetheless, Miller and his staff will work to find ways to capitalize off Jackson's varied offensive skill set as she gets more comfortable on that end of the floor. -- Alexa Philippou
Up next: at Indiana Fever on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
Cameron Brink, Los Angeles Sparks
Forward | 6-foot-4 | Game log | Stats
Last time out: Brink showed her offensive firepower by scoring 12 of Los Angeles' first 14 points Sunday -- her most dominant quarter of the season. The former Stanford great ultimately finished with a season- and game-best 21 points (beating her previous high of 15) despite again navigating foul trouble. Her scoring was needed considering the rest of the Sparks shot 24% from the field at the half. The No. 2 pick joined Candace Parker (who did it four times) and DeLisha Milton-Jones as the only rookies in franchise history with 20 points and 3 blocks in a game.
What stood out: It's easy to understand why the Sparks are so excited about Brink's potential when she's hitting 3 of 6 attempts from the 3-point arc. And when Los Angeles got her out in space, she was hard for Dallas' bigs to contain.
After picking up two fouls in the first quarter and a third by halftime, Brink needs to work on defending without fouling -- she's already such a good rim protector as it is with multiple blocks in each of her pro games. But it was good to see Miller keep her in the game after she picked up her fourth midway through the final period; she played through it without picking up her fifth until much later in the game. -- Alexa Philippou
Up next: at Indiana Fever on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
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Angel Reese, Chicago Sky
Forward | 6-foot-3 | Game log | Stats
Last time out: Chicago fans watched the Chi-Town Barbie go to work for the first time this season, as Saturday's game against the Connecticut Sun -- an 86-82 loss -- was the Sky's home opener. As she has in every game so far in her pro career, Reese finished in double figures, matching her career high of 13 points, on 4-of 9-shooting. She had her least effective outing on the glass, collecting just five boards as she competed against frontcourt players such as Brionna Jones, Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner. But the LSU star rounded out her stat line with two assists and a steal to go with two turnovers and three fouls.
Even though she didn't completely stuff the stat sheet, Reese became the first player in Sky history with 10 points and five rebounds in each of her first four games.
What stood out: Unlike most of her recent games where she came alive in the fourth quarter, Reese shined in the first half Saturday, scoring 10 of her points. She was quieter down the stretch but late in the third quarter was on the receiving end of a flagrant foul 2 from Thomas, resulting in the ejection of the MVP candidate. Thomas, known as one of the toughest competitors and a former Maryland Terrapin as well as Reese, battled with the rookie for much of the game. Apparently, her frustrations boiled over. Reese's game and whether it was pro ready was a huge talking point leading up to her getting drafted. While expanding her range and developing more of a face-up game will be critical to her growth, she showed flashes of those elements on Saturday with a midrange jumper and a jab and drive past Thomas in the first half. -- Philippou
Up next: vs. Seattle Storm on Tuesday (8 p.m. ET)
Alyssa Thomas ejected after sending Angel Reese to the floor
Alyssa Thomas is ejected against the Sky after a hard foul that sends Angel Reese to the floor.
Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever
Guard | 6-foot-0 | Game log | Stats
Last time out: It was another quiet shooting night for Clark as the Indiana Fever fell to the Las Vegas Aces 99-80 to drop to 1-6 on the season. Clark's only field goals came from an early 3-pointer over the contested reach of Kelsey Plum and a step-back trey to begin the second half. She finished 2 for 8 from the field (2 for 5 on 3s), continued to facilitate with seven assists, while also coming away with five rebounds and a steal. She did, however, struggle with six turnovers and managed a season-low eight points. Clark was held to single figures just once in her college career, her freshman season -- and so far that's happened twice in her seven WNBA games. But there was a huge silver lining to the matchup for Clark, as she got to face her best friend and former Iowa teammate, Kate Martin, who's become a fan favorite off the bench for the Aces. Despite her recent struggles scoring the ball, Clark still joined Candace Parker and Sabrina Ionescu as the only players in WNBA history to average 15 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists through seven career games.
What stood out: It's one thing to play seven games in 12 days to start the season. It's another thing to have games six and seven on consecutive days on the road ... and the latter against the two-time defending champs. For Clark, that meant going up against Jackie Young -- one of the top players in the world right now -- who proved to be another tough matchup for her, as the rookie went 0-for-4 with three turnovers when Young was her primary defender. But with the game still within reach midway through the fourth quarter, Clark uncharacteristically passed up an open 3, dribbling it out and passing to a teammate who missed her shot before the Aces answered. Understandably, Clark and the Fever may be out of gas near the end of this grueling stretch for a young team with so much outside noise surrounding it. But all things considered, the Fever competed Saturday night. Now, Clark and the Fever barely get a breather before returning to the floor on Tuesday, but any sort of break -- or even practice time -- will be welcomed by coach Christie Sides, Clark and the crew. --Alexa Philippou
Up next: vs. Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday(7 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
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