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

WNBA, Indiana Fever, Chicago Sky, Los Angeles Sparks, Washington Mystics

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. 17

Rickea Jackson, Los Angeles Sparks

Forward | 6-foot-2 | Game log | Stats

Last time out: Jackson's final home game of her WNBA rookie season ended early Tuesday, as she was ejected along with Phoenix center Brittney Griner following an altercation just before halftime in Los Angeles.

Jackson and Griner got tangled up while getting into rebounding position with the Mercury at the free throw line and 18.1 seconds left in the second quarter. Then they exchanged words and got into a brief scuffle before being separated. Phoenix went on to win the game 85-81.

Jackson finished with 8 points and struggled from the field, going 2-of-11. She also had 3 rebounds and 1 steal in 20 minutes. This was just the second game since July 13 that Jackson has not reached double figures in scoring.

What we learned: The last-place Sparks dropped to 7-32 overall and finished 5-15 at home. They will end the season at Minnesota on Thursday, with neither team having anything to play for.

The Lynx are locked into the No. 2 seed and face No. 7 seed Phoenix in the first round of the playoffs. The Sparks are looking toward 2025. -- Michael Voepel

Up next: at Minnesota Lynx on Thursday (8 p.m. ET)


Kamilla Cardoso, Chicago Sky

Center | 6-foot-7 | Game log | Stats

Last time out: DNP -- injury. Atlanta Dream won 86-70.

Up next: at Connecticut Sun on Thursday (7 p.m. ET)


Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever

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)

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