WNBA rookie tracker: Liberty snap Reese's double-double streak at 15
The 2024 WNBA draft class was one of the most anticipated groups of rookies in league history.
And now they’re etching their names in the history books.
Angel Reese set a WNBA record for most consecutive double-doubles, a streak that ended Saturday at 15.
And Caitlin Clark became the first rookie in the WNBA to tally a triple-double.
We’re tracking performances from top rookies every game day this season. Players will be added or subtracted based on performance and injury.
Last updated: July 13
Forward | 6-foot-3 | Game log | Stats
Last time out: Reese’s WNBA-record streak of consecutive double-doubles was snapped Saturday in Chicago’s 81-67 home loss to New York. Reese dominated the glass with a game-high 16 rebounds but was limited to eight points on 3-for-13 shooting). Four New York players swarmed Reese on the Sky’s final possession of the game, ensuring she didn’t get the final two points to record the double-double.
Reese still made some history this weekend: Her 276 rebounds are the most by any WNBA player through their first 23 career games.
What we learned: It wasn’t a banner day for Chicago on either end of the floor, but Reese struggled to get going after halftime especially. The former LSU standout was limited to two points on 0-for-5 shooting in the second half, while picking up three fouls and a technical. Coach Teresa Weatherspoon seemed displeased with the officiating, as the Sky took only four shots from the free throw line, two of which came from Reese. — Alexa Philippou
Up next: at Las Vegas Aces on Tuesday (10 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
Forward | 6-foot-2 | Game log | Stats
Last time out: Jackson joined All-Star Dearica Hamby with massive outings in the Sparks’ 87-81 win Saturday over Dallas Wings, which was Los Angeles’ second road win of the season. The rookie finished with a season-high 23 points on 8-for-14 shooting and went 7-for-9 from the free throw line, while adding 7 rebounds and 2 assists.
The former Tennessee star tallied the second 20-piece in her last three games and became the first Sparks rookie since Nneka Ogwumike in 2012 to record multiple 20-point games.
What we learned: After a strong start (eight first-quarter points), Jackson had to sit for stretches due to foul trouble, but upon re-entering the game in the decisive fourth quarter she proved key for the Sparks, scoring a team-best nine points in the frame.
In a recent loss to Phoenix, Sparks coach Curt Miller noted L.A. struggled in determining who should be the closer. But Dallas had no answer for Jackson down the stretch: Her back-to-back buckets midway through the fourth gave Los Angeles the lead for good; she finished 3-for-3 from the field and went 3-for-5 from the line in the final period. — Philippou
Up next: vs. Seattle Storm on Tuesday (3:30 p.m. ET)
Center | 6-foot-7 | Game log | Stats
Last time out: Cardoso finished with 6 points (3-for 8-shooting) and 5 rebounds in 34 minutes, which marked her fewest rebounds since mid-June.
Still, the Sky outrebounded the Liberty 41-28 and had 12 second-chance points — thanks to 9 offensive boards from Cardoso and Reese alone, more than double what the entire New York roster recorded on the offensive glass (4).
What we learned: The Sky want to play through the paint but it proved difficult to do on Saturday, even as the Liberty were without key players in Breanna Stewart and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton. The Sky were bested by New York 36-34 in paint scoring, tied for the team’s season low, and made just 17 of their 39 attempts in that area. Chicago is 0-7 when the Sky manage fewer than 40 points in the paint. — Phiippou
Up next: at Las Vegas Aces on Tuesday (10 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
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Caitlin Clark makes history vs. Mercury
Caitlin Clark makes WNBA history as the only rookie with multiple games of 20 points and 10 assists.
Guard | 6-foot | Game log | Stats
Last time out: The Fever went from a big rally that fell short Wednesday to forcing Phoenix’s big rally to fall short Friday. And in both games, Clark piled up stats.
With Friday’s 95-86 victory against the Mercury, she became the first WNBA rookie to have two games in a season with at least 20 points and 10 assists. Angel McCoughtry did it in 2009 for the Atlanta Dream.
Clark finished with 20 points, 13 assists and 6 rebounds Friday; she has had 13 assists four times this season.
Clark has 96 points and 62 assists in her past five games. She is the first WNBA player to have 90 points and 60 assists in any five-game span. Her 232 points scored or assisted on in that span are the most in WNBA history.
Clark has scored or assisted on 818 points this season, the most in the league. She and Aliyah Boston (21 points, 13 rebounds) are the first Fever teammates to have 20-point double-doubles in the same game.
What we learned: Indiana led by as many as 31 points in the third quarter, which the injury-riddled Mercury cut all the way down to four in the fourth period. But Indiana held on to move to 10-14 on the season. The Fever are in seventh place in the WNBA standings with two games left before the All Star/Olympic break.
Friday, the Fever were in the exact opposite position they were in Wednesday against Washington. Against the Mystics, Indiana trailed by 21 going into the fourth quarter but cut the deficit to three. Washington held on in a difficult loss for the Fever. But they came out strong Friday and looked to be running away with the game late in the third quarter before the Mercury’s big comeback.
Afterward, coach Christie Sides said the Mercury’s zone defense — which they were pretty much forced into as they were down to five available players in the fourth quarter — seemed to rattle the Fever.
She also said the Fever’s lapse shouldn’t have happened.
“That is the energy and focus you have to have, and you have to sustain that for 40 minutes,” Sides said. “You can’t have the drop-offs.” — Michael Voepel
Up next: at Minnesota Lynx on Sunday (4 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Forward | 6-foot-3 | Game log | Stats
Last time out: Edwards really asserted herself Wednesday in the Mystics’ 89-84 victory at Indiana. She finished with 12 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists coming off the bench. Edwards played 21 minutes and was one of five Washington players who scored in double figures, led by Ariel Atkins (26 points).
What we learned: The Mystics moved to 6-17 and got their third victory on the road. Washington lost two previous games to the Fever this season and face them once more, in the regular-season finale Sept. 19. — Voepel
Up next: vs. Las Vegas Aces on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, CBS SN)
