All eyes are on the WNBA playoff push with less than two weeks remaining in the 2024 regular season.
But the most anticipated draft class in league history has also continued to draw attention. Caitlin Clark, the No. 1 draft pick in April, led the Indiana Fever back to the postseason for the first time since 2016. Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso hope to lead the Chicago Sky to the playoffs as well.
Clark and Reese have already etched their names into the record books. Clark set the WNBA single-game record with 19 assists, and she is the first rookie in league history to tally a triple-double — let alone two. Reese set a WNBA record for consecutive double-doubles (15) and the league mark for most rebounds in a season (446).
Reese’s memorable rookie season ended suddenly Sept. 7 when she announced she had suffered a season-ending wrist injury. Over 34 games, she averaged 13.6 points, 13.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals. Reese had 26 double-doubles, just shy of Connecticut forward Alyssa Thomas’ record of 28 set last year.
We’ll continue to track the top rookie performances every game day throughout the season.
Last updated: Sept. 15
Guard | 6-foot | Game log | Stats
Last time out: In the Fever’s last regular-season home game — a 110-109 victory over the Dallas Wings on Sunday — Clark scored a career-high 35 points and set the WNBA rookie season scoring record. She is now at 761 points in 39 games, breaking the mark of 744 set in 34 games by the Minnesota Lynx’s Seimone Augustus in 2006. The WNBA went to a 40-game schedule last year.
Clark had 8 and pushed her WNBA single-season record in that category to 329. She was 10 of 22 from the field — 6 of 14 from 3-point range — and 9 of 9 from the free throw line. She had 3 steals, 2 rebounds and 5 turnovers.
Overall, Clark was happy with the victory, but not with how the Fever played in the final minutes as they had a hard time closing out the Wings.
“I thought the game was really fun,” Clark said. “I would say once we got [the lead] to eight, I wish we could have kept that a little bit better. Very high scoring game, but our defense could be a lot better.”
What we learned: The Fever shot 50% from the field overall and 47.1% (16 of 34) from behind the arc. The 110 points were their most this season and tied the franchise record. Indiana won 110-90 over Phoenix in August 2010.
The Fever are 20-19, their first time reaching 20 victories in a season since 2015, when they went 20-15 and made the WNBA Finals. — Michael Voepel
Up next: at Washington Mystics on Thursday (7 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
Forward | 6-foot-2 | Game log | Stats
Last time out: JThings might not be going well for the Sparks, but Jackson continues to put up good numbers. She had 22 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals Sunday as the Sparks fell 90-87 to the Seattle Storm.
Jackson, who has scored in double figures in every game but one since July 13, was 7 of 16 from the field. Jackson now has 508 points, joining Candace Parker (610 in 2008) as the only Sparks rookies to score at least 500 points in their first season.
What we learned: The Sparks dropped to 7-31, but the 3-point loss was their closest margin of defeat since falling to the Dallas Wings by three on Aug. 25. Two more games and the Sparks can officially shut the door on a forgettable 2024 and look toward 2025. — Voepel
Up next: vs. Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday (10:30 p.m. ET, CBSSN)
Center | 6-foot-7 | Game log | Stats
Last time out: Cardoso, dealing with shoulder pain, played just 9 minutes in the Sky’s 93-88 loss to the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday. She had 2 points, 3 rebounds and 2 blocks in the first half and did not play in the second half after telling coach Teresa Weatherspoon that she was experiencing the pain.
“Her health is more important to me than anything,” Weatherspoon said in the Sky’s postgame news conference. “And when we spoke, that’s what she was feeling — it was more important to make sure that she’s healthy.”
What we learned: The Sky have lost 11 of 14 games since the Olympic break ended and are 13-25, tied with the Washington Mystics and Atlanta Dream. Angel Reese is out for the season and now fellow rookie Cardoso is also sidelined, although it’s unknown for how long. Chicago’s playoff hopes are getting dimmer. — Voepel
Up next: at Atlanta Dream on Tuesday (7:30 p.m. ET)
