ESPN
Jun 12, 2024, 11:35 PM ET
The 2024 WNBA season is about a quarter way through a 40-game schedule. And all eyes are on Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and one of the most anticipated rookie classes in league history.
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, are among the rookies consistently 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.
Last updated: June 12
Angel Reese, Chicago Sky
Forward | 6-foot-3 | Game log | Stats
Last time out: Reese led the Sky in scoring (20 points) and rebounding (10, including 4 offensive) in their 83-75 home loss to the Connecticut Sun. It marked her fourth consecutive double-double, breaking a tie with Sylvia Fowles (three) for the longest such streak by a Sky rookie in franchise history. Reese also tallied 2 steals and 1 assist, though she struggled at times and had 4 turnovers (all while going up against 2023 MVP runner-up Alyssa Thomas) and five fouls, four in the second half.
What we learned: Reese put together the most efficient performance of her pro career with 8-for-10 shooting -- previously she had never shot above 50% from the floor and hadn't made more than five field goals in a game. All but one of her attempts were within 3 feet of the rim, but she found success in transition or in set offenses beyond putbacks, one of her strong suits.
Reese's big night was not only critical with the rest of her team struggling to convert from the floor (41.7%), but it signified her growth in going up against physical pro players, particularly a tough defensive team in Connecticut. -- Alexa Philippou
Up next: at Washington Mystics on Friday (7:30 p.m. ET, ION)
Announcers love Kamilla Cardoso's big-time block
It's lift-off time for Kamilla Cardoso as she elevates for a huge block on the Sun's DeWanna Bonner.
Kamilla Cardoso, Chicago Sky
Center | 6-foot-7 | Game log | Stats
Last time out: Cardoso notched her first consecutive double-digit scoring games of the season with 10 points (3-for-7 from the field, 4-for-4 from the free throw line), while also recording 3 blocks and 3 turnovers. Cardoso and Reese led the team in rebounding, the former collecting nine boards, a season high.
What we learned: Coach Teresa Weatherspoon said pregame Cardoso is finally off her minutes restriction, and so the 6-foot-7 center ended up playing a season-high 30 minutes, though the coach went with Isabelle Harrison down low for most of the fourth. Cardoso's most memorable moments of the night came on the defensive end, where her three blocks were big crowd pleasers. As she continues to find her footing on the floor, and is tasked with more responsibility for however long Elizabeth Williams is out with a knee injury, Cardoso could be poised to emerge as another consistent double-double alongside Reese. --Philippou
Up next: at Washington Mystics on Friday (7:30 p.m. ET, ION)
Cameron Brink, Los Angeles Sparks
Forward | 6-foot-4 | Game log | Stats
Last time out: Most WNBA rookies almost always go through some inconsistency. And it's fair to say that has been the case so far with Brink and fellow lottery pick Rickea Jackson. Brink was 2-of-7 for 7 points, plus 4 rebounds and 4 blocked shots in Tuesday's 95-79 loss at Seattle. The score is a little misleading; the Sparks trailed by just five points with 4 minutes left before the Storm stepped on the gas.
What we learned: Offense has been the up-and-down part of Brink's first season, but that's not all on her considering how the Sparks haven't consistently been able to get her good looks in the post.
But defensively, at least with her shot-blocking, she has been consistent. Tuesday, Brink tied Phoenix's Brittney Griner for most blocks through the first 12 games of a WNBA career with 34. That's second only to Margo Dydek's 37. (And for younger or new WNBA fans, Dydek was 7-foot-2.) -- Michael Voepel
Up next: at Minnesota Lynx on Friday (7:30 p.m. ET, ION)
Rickea Jackson, Los Angeles Sparks
Forward | 6-foot-2 | Game log | Stats
Last time out: Jackson was limited to 3 points on 1-of-8 shooting, with 1 rebound, in the Sparks' 95-79 loss at Seattle on Tuesday. This came after she had tied her season high with 16 points Sunday at Las Vegas.
Jackson played just 16 minutes against the Storm, one of four starters who played 19 minutes or less.
What we learned: Other than starter Dearica Hamby, the Sparks don't have a player they can be sure is going to be productive every night. Tuesday, Hamby did her thing -- 16 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists -- and got the most help from Los Angeles' bench, not the other starters. Four Sparks reserves played 22 minutes or more, and the bench combined for 47 points.
We'll have to see what that might mean going forward for Brink, who has started every game, and Jackson, who has started the past seven. -- Voepel
Up next: at Minnesota Lynx on Friday (7:30 p.m. ET, ION)
Caitlin Clark held to 10 points in Fever's loss to Sun
Caitlin Clark scores just 10 points and tallies more turnovers than assists as the Fever fall to the Sun.
Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever
Guard | 6-foot | Game log | Stats
Last time out: Clark and the Fever struggled against the Connecticut Sun on Monday, losing 89-72 but trailing by 20-plus points for much of the game. DiJonai Carrington and the tough Sun defense caused problems for the No. 1 pick once more, as Clark totaled 10 points on 3-for-8 shooting and 2 assists. Clark also picked up four fouls and committed 3 turnovers, playing a season-low 22 minutes in the blowout and finishing with minus-30 in plus-minus, the worst of any player Monday. One play in particular felt like the dagger: Carrington picked Clark's pocket near half court, raced down the floor and hit a running layup just before the buzzer to end the first half with the Sun up 55-35.
What we learned: Fever coach Christie Sides didn't call out any particular player postgame, but she was disappointed with her team's effort. She started her news conference with "You can't coach effort," and said improving that is something the players will have to figure out themselves. Their defensive resistance was nonexistent, and they sent Connecticut to the foul line 24 times (Clark shot only two free throws, uncharacteristically low for her).
It then didn't seem like a coincidence that four of the five starters (including Clark) didn't see the floor for the final 15 minutes of the game, with Clark exiting for good at the 4:41 mark after picking up her fourth foul.
"We were down 28 and I wanted to put a group in there that would get out and play some defense," Sides said of the decision. "I'm really, really proud of that group that went out there and cut the lead. They played hard. We've got Atlanta coming up, we've got Chicago coming up. Just thinking ahead."
Between their lack of cohesion on offense and their array of deficiencies on defense, Indiana's problems at this point extend well beyond the specific issue of Clark's adjustment to the pro level, and this upcoming stretch of games -- the team also plays Washington -- is an opportunity for the Fever to get back on track in both their basketball execution and the effort department. -- Philippou
Up next: vs. Atlanta Dream on Thursday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN3)
